He leads me in paths of righteousness (Psalm 23:3)
“…He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”
Psalm 23:3
Although sheep have great eyesight, being able to see behind them without moving their heads, they have really bad depth perception. A dip in the ground or a shadow cast by a cloud will have them second guessing every step. That’s why sheep need to be lead by the shepherd. Left to themselves, sheep will follow the first flock member that moves, this only becomes a bad case of “follow the leader” considering that the leader has no idea where they’re going or what they’re doing.
My Uncle Jim, a retired New York City Firefighter, told me one of his “firehouse jokes” that stands on the same line… it goes like this:
“My friend and I were driving in his car when we came to a red light, instead of stopping he just zipped right through it!
I asked, “Why didn’t you stop at the red light?!”
To which he replied carefree, “My brother does it all the time.”
Again and again my friend continued to run the reds, until finally we approached a green light and he slammed on the breaks.
“Why are you stopping at a green?!” I yelled
He turned and yelled back, “My brother might be coming the other way!”
So often we follow the wrong directions simply because someone else heads in that direction. What makes things worse is that we aren’t just following each other in innocence, but we are sinful beings who naturally have a desire to head in a less than Holy direction. The result is a loss of liberty.
I’ve had friends tell me they didn’t want to follow Jesus because it would mean they could no longer be free to enjoy their own pleasures. I, in return, told them that the freedom they speak of is no freedom at all; seeking to indulge your own pleasures will only lead to bondage in sin. The bible teaches, “there’s a way that seems right to a man, but it only leads to death.” When a man seeks to map out his own course apart from the Wonderful Counselor he will eventually end up a captive to his own sinful nature. The mindset that thinks, “My right to indulge in carnal desire liberates me” is like an inmate saying, “the freedom to walk around my cell is enjoyable and desirable.” When we follow any direction other than the Word of God we follow a hazardous way that leads to an eventual crash. Obedience to Jesus Christ brings true liberty.
So if we follow the Shepherd…where will He lead us?
“He leads us in paths of righteousness”
Our Good Shepherd desires to lead us into Holiness, a perfect relationship with Him (Matthew 5:48). None of us have the ability to attain holiness or walk a perfect path, that’s why it’s silly to follow anyone but Jesus. These facts often pose a problem for those who don’t follow Jesus, being that they are incapable of perfection on their own but also unwilling to recieve perfection from another. In thier eyes it may seem like God has unfair expectations of them, however, just the opposite is true. He desires that we, as inperfect beings, would be perfect and holy, but He doesn’t expect us to get there on our own. Even the disciples recognized this dilemma and asked the Lord, “who then can be saved?” Replying to thier question Jesus stated, ”with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:25, 26)
God will never place any demand or expectation upon us which He will not supply the means and the grace to accomplish. He’ll lead you into His righteousness; all you have to do is follow.
He restores our souls (Psalm 23:3)
“He restores my soul…”
Psalm 23:3
A common misconception held in regards to the Human race is that we, like all the other species of the animal kingdom, are two part beings (i.e. body, and soul). The truth is, however, that we are not part of the animal kingdom; and we as mankind were created specially in God’s image, making us three part beings (i.e. Body, Soul, and Spirit).
“Isn’t the soul and the spirit the same thing?” You might ask
No
The Bible clearly states in the Hebrew that the soul is not the same as the spirit. The spirit is that within us that will move on into eternity; it’s the character image of God that is imparted unto us and shaped into His likeness while here on earth. The soul, on the other hand, is the combination of the thoughts we think and the emotions we feel, knit into our makeup by God as tools He uses to shape our spirits to be as His own. “Nephesh”-the Hebrew word for “soul” speaks of the mind and heart, the source of thinking and feeling. A vital area within a person’s being, but not the inner being itself.
So what exactly is David trying to say as he pens the words, “He restores my soul…”?
He’s telling us that the Shepherd cares about what we as His sheep think, and He’s intimately concerned with how His sheep feel. He desires to “restore”-or literally translated, “to turn around, or bring back” the peace of mind that He originally designed for us to enjoy while in relationship with Him. He wants to turn around the misdirected thoughts and emotions that are negatively affecting our spirit, leading us out of the pain of the present problem, and into the assurance of His promised paradise. The dilemma is that sometimes, like sheep, we get spooked easily. Sheep have this strange tendency to panic when fearful (sound familiar?)Due to the panic they become unsettled and take off away from the Shepherd, leading them into unnecessary hurt, pain, and injury.
Our thoughts and emotions can be a tricky area. As Jeremiah the prophet said, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) Directly following those words the Lord replies, “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind”. You see, Our Shepherd sees the inner workings of our heart and mind. Not only is He capable to diagnose our heart conditions, He is also perfectly able to restore and remedy those things which often lead to our breaking down and giving up. There isn’t one person on this green earth that hasn’t experienced a time where they got depressed, disappointed, and disillusioned to some degree. It happens so easily, and make no mistake, its not a “walk in the park” to snap out of it. This is why David reminds us that the answer isn’t a self help book, positive thinking methods, or even Yoga positions…the answer is not in our ability, the answer is in the Lord. For we too are like sheep, we get psyched out by the emotions which are triggered by our thoughts. In effect we derail, falling out of step with the Shepherd, endangering our own lives, and sometimes the lives of those who are following us.
Who is it that reminds, returns, and refocuses our soul to where it needs to be?
The good Shepherd…Jesus.
How does He do it?
Psalm 51, another psalm where David speaks of the Shepherd Illustration helps us understand this secret.
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your loving kindness, according to the multitude of Your tender mercies…Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom…Make me hear Joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice.”
Psalm 51:1, 6, 8
When sheep get scared they scatter, inevitably leading to a harmful predicament. Straying sheep often means injured sheep…maybe even dead sheep. That’s not what the good Shepherd wants when it comes to the sheep He loves.
So what does a loving, kind, merciful, tender Shepherd do to keep scared sheep from scattering?
He breaks their leg.
Calm down…I know your probably thinking, “How is breaking the leg of the one you love “kind, merciful, and tender”?
Before you begin questioning the love of the Shepherd, take a closer look at the result of His actions. In ancient times, when a certain lamb developed the bad habit of consistently straying away from the Shepherd and endangering its life, the Shepherd would take the baby sheep that strayed and break one of its legs. He then would masterfully set the broken leg, lifting the lamb onto His able shoulders, carrying it until the leg had healed. During that time of close intimacy with the Shepherd that lamb would witness up close and personal the loving strength day by day as it simply rested upon the strong shoulders of the Shepherd to carry it through. Eventually when the lamb was able to bear its own wieght again it has become only natural to remain, draw near, and abide with the Shepherd.
Perhaps you might think, “That’s well and good for lambs Dan, but i’m no lamb…i’m not even a spring chicken! I’ve been in this pasture so long, so set in my ways that I can’t possibly heal from a broken bone…much less have my old, overwieght body hauled around by the Shepherd. If that’s you take heart. The Lord is mighty and capable, “a thousand years are as a day, and a day a thousand years to the Lord” It doesn’t matter if you’ve been around for 80 years and you feel like God is breaking you down and carrying you through, your still a babe to the Lord. Heck, He’s been around before Day 1 was measured out and listed as Day 1. Your just a babe in His arms, He can carry you, He will carry you, If you just let Him.
The Shepherd desires that His sheep would know completely the truth of his love, kindness, and mercy no matter the situation or circumstance. So when thunder claps, or the wolf howls, or the wind blows a little harder than what the sheep might feel comfortable with, the presence of the Shepherd speaks assurance and security to the easily rattled sheep, and so it is for you and me.
When emotions tempt us to worry and whine, and we begin to feel as though life is bearing it’s fangs at us, we need not fear. Instead, in those times we must remember how the good Shepherd has carried us with His strength.
Simply place your faith in the One that has carried you this far, draw near to His love, and experience the restoring of your soul.
quick update
Hello Fam,
Just a quick update to those following along, first i’d like to apologize for my inconsistency with the daily devos, while being in England for the past 2.5 months it’s been loaded with demanding ministry that at times has left me in heavy need of making sure my personal time with the Lord was healthy which in turn had me having to take some days to get renewed before i could pour into some new writing. Thanks so much for understanding and for those who have written and commented on some of the devo’s i’m grateful for your encouragement and support, the Lord bless you guys.
At the moment i’m about to head to bed, tomorrow i have a long day of traveling as i will be returning stateside. Much more on tap in the days to come for the Psalm 23 study, and for those of you who are juiced to get back into Genesis, be patient, it’ll be back….trust me.
Well, that’s all for now. If it crosses your mind have us in prayer as we start the long journey back to the states, expect some new posts as the week closes.
Blessings in Jesus
-Dan
Beside Still Waters (Psalm 23:2)
“…He leads me beside the still waters.”
Psalm 23:2
In a day of artificial flavors and developed desire for flash sometimes we forget that common problems more often than not have common solutions. As much as Sports drinks are hyped up to pleasurably quench our thirst and benefit our bodies, scientists all across the board agree that they will never compare to the good old remedy for thirst…water.
“If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink. And out of his innermost being shall gush forth torrents of living water”
John 7:37, 38
Jesus proclaimed this in the midst of the Feast of Tabernacles, one of the three great Jewish festivals. It’s name actually explains quite a bit about the event, for seven days the Jewish people will live in makeshift shelters made of branches and leaves commemorating the days when their ancestors lived in tents wandering through the wilderness (Lev.23:40-43). The festival takes place in September/October, about six months after the events of feeding the five thousand and many disciples turning away.
On each day of the feast, the people would come with palm branches and march around the altar. A priest then took a pitcher filled with water from the Pool of Siloam, carried the water all the way to the temple courts, and poured it out over the altar as an offering to the Lord. This ceremony represented the time that the Lord brought forth water from the rock during the wilderness wanderings. On the last day of the festival, the people marched seven times around the altar illustrating the seven laps around the walls of Jericho.
I can just imagine as they round the altar, palm branches waving and all types of hooting and hollering happening, a man is seen standing up and crying out above the roar of the event.
“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” He yells.
This began a debate that is still in action today, much like the “Sports drink versus Water” debate, many people were trying to decide whether Jesus was truly the solution, and the question remains to this day. For those who have done the research however, the question is a common one which has a very simple answer, just as all scientists agree that water is hands down best for thirst, all creation testifies that Jesus is completely the way, the truth, the life, the quencher of thirst, and the sustainer of living water.
As I watched the field of sheep outside my friend’s window the other day I noticed another thing about the sheep when it came to drinking water. The shepherd approached and called, gradually all the sheep drew near, then slowly the shepherd made his way to where the sheep would drink. I witnessed as one sheep decided to trust the shepherd’s voice, then those near him followed towards the shepherd, and gradually those near them the same, leading to good water and wonderful results.
It’s an interesting and sometimes bizarre tendency that we as humans have in common with sheep. We too naturally follow each other, this sometimes is a dangerous thing being that sheep have been known to follow each other off of cliffs when spooked, and we as the human race have often followed each other away from the good Shepherd and strayed. On the other hand, there is the occasion when the nature to follow is positive, when the one who has heard the voice of the shepherd moves after the Shepherd knowing that He has always lead them well, and those that follow move closer to experiencing and understanding this lovely truth.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, He leads us beside still waters refreshing our spirits and bringing satisfaction to our lives like no other. Choose to follow Him and you might find that your commitment has lead to the salvation of many others behind you.
He Makes me Lie down (Psalm 23:2)
“He makes me to lie down in green pastures…”
Psalm 23:2
While in England I was helping a friend renovate his kitchen, as I looked up from my work I noticed through the front window that just across the street from his house was a field of sheep hanging out. As it started to rain I watched as the sheep gathered and knelt in their little groups; in the midst of what I would call, “inconvenient weather” the sheep rested peacefully.
As we continue to track with David we watch as he speaks of lying in the green pastures of life. This is the entrance to the field of his circumstances, the fellowship of his flock, and the compelling sensations of rest that are found in the inconvenient moments.
What inconvenient moments? You might wonder.
Isn’t Psalm 23 the great psalm of serenity, isn’t it the “go to guy” for relaxation and peace?
What’s this “inconvenient moments” business you speak of, Dan?
The verb “to lie” in the Hebrew is literally translated “to be stretched out”. So too, when the atmosphere of our situation begins to be a bit overcast, and the rain begins to come down it’s natural as sheep to lie down, and be stretched out a bit. That’s exactly what trials do to us, they stretch us out. However, as our faith is stretched and we are brought to our knees the pasture looks a little greener, and our weary bones find a bit of rest. You see we can look at the present condition of our pasture as a burden or we can see it as a blessing. The Good Shepherd brings us to the green pasture and we can choose to focus on the bitter root or we can chew on the greener grass.
When the climate takes a turn for the worse we are being molded into the best of God’s image. We can rest or we can be restless, it’s up to us, either way the storm will eventually pass, and when we rise we will have had the opportunity to be fully rested, renewed in our faith, and reminded that “He makes us to lie down”
So enjoy it and be blessed.
I shall not want? (Psalm 23:1)
“…I shall not want”
Psalm 23:1
Quite often I have wants. I want answers, I want satisfaction, I want coffee, and the wants just keep on coming. When it benefits I want more of it, when it’s inconvenient I want less…and on and on it goes. Wants are about as abundant as the breath in our lungs, fittingly, wants also change about as often as we breathe as well.
This part of the verse intrigues me because at first glance it seems like our man David has arrived…he’s so tight with God that every little thing he’s ever wanted has been supplied. David is living the high life, plush as can be, no worries, no trouble, “He has no want”. As I take a closer look though, I see something else. It doesn’t say, “I have no want”…it says, “I shall not want”. The emphasis isn’t on the subject but the verb. It’s a choice taking place; and David has purposed not to want. Don’t get me wrong, the guy is human, I’m sure he has his desires and cravings just like the next guy, however, the decision he speaks of here is based on his relationship and understanding of the Lords heart. The Lord desires to bless and provide, totally and completely meeting our needs and David understands that.
This is often the point where people disagree.
They say, “No way, I’ve had needs that were never met.”
And I say in response, “If the needs weren’t met you wouldn’t be alive.”
The word want here is translated Chacer, or to lack, David was declaring his trust that God fully knew what it took to keep him sustained on every level according to God’s will and desire. That being the case, David in turn decided that if God is in fact “fully in control” and “fully tending to all the needs” then he has no lack or want because everything is taken care of.
The problem is not that needs aren’t met but that we don’t truly know what our needs and wants are. There are times when we are convinced that what we want is what we need when in fact those supposed needs are merely wants…and when they aren’t supplied we sulk, and whine, and pout. God knows exactly what our needs are and supplies them perfectly. If they aren’t met…then they weren’t a need. If it is a need and it hasn’t been met then we must be patient because our timing may not be when the answer needs to arrive, so the best decision is to choose as David did. The Lord is my Shepherd, He knows my needs, I’m just a sheep that doesn’t have a clue as to what I need and want, so I’ll just listen to Him and know that it’s going to be okay.
He’ll provide for all my needs and “I shall not want”.
Resting in Psalm 23
As I have been in England these last couple months I’ve found my time with the Lord richly blessed. At times the circumstances I was in weren’t super great, in fact they have been pretty challenging and I’ve found myself often wiped, worked, and wondering when I might have a chance to recover. In the midst of all the challenges, decisions, and demands of day to day life I found myself back with an old friend…Psalm 23. This powerful 6 verse punch of a psalm has been my refreshment, restoration, and reminder as I have been sifting through the things that life has been throwing at me. My prayer is that as we study through Psalm 23 the next two weeks that you too will be refreshed, restored, and reminded of God as our King, Shepherd, and Caregiver.
God bless you
-Dan
“The Lord is my shepherd…”
Psalm 23:1
Just above the first words of this psalm is the introduction, “A Psalm of David”. As I was soaking up this psalm I found that I never really gave a whole lot of thought to the fact that I’m reading the passion and ponderings of a shepherd. When considering all the great biblical characters most of us have a picture painted in our minds of what that character looked like. John the Baptist is often sporting some type of gnarly animal fur and throwing back some type of bug as a snack, Jesus has these wonderful blue eyes, lush long hair, and a nicely trimmed beard, David is often wearing a crown on his head remembered as King or a sling in his hand remembered as a giant slayer, but more often than not people don’t think of him as the shepherd. That’s because being a shepherd has never really been a job of glory and fame but a job of grace and shame.
A Shepherd in ancient times wasn’t the most socially acceptable position. Most of them were considered the low lives of society due to their image. As a shepherd, stepping in pasture patties wasn’t something uncommon, having some poop stains on your robe was normal, and smelling like sheep was just another thing that came with the job. They tend animals that don’t have the sense to tend themselves. Often lost, hurt, or hunted, sheep had need of a capable, gracious, and faithful caretaker, and the same goes for you and me.
In the Bible God is often referred to as The Shepherd, and we are the sheep. He is the leader and the caretaker and we are those that need leading and taking care of.
Why?
Because we too get lost in sin, get hurt by this world, and are hunted by the enemy. So the Lord, our Shepherd, came to be with, provide for, and take care over us, His sheep.
Why would one be a shepherd though?
Why take a job that stinks and is looked down on by others?
The answer is not “Someone’s got to do it” but “Someone gets to do it”
You see a shepherd doesn’t sign up for the status boost or the working conditions, He signs up because he has a relationship to the sheep, he loves them and wants see them live abundantly well. His reward is them, in their life, their growth, their abiding. Just as a Shepherd’s joy is in his sheep, so too the Lord’s joy and reward is in us. God cares for you and me, He desires to see us not only live life but to live it abundantly well, without being stolen from, without being beat up, without being annihilated.
“Behold, the Lord God shall come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him. He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.”
Isaiah 40:10-11
So how do we get to that place with the Shepherd?
How do we receive abundant life?
We abide with the Shepherd, we draw near and intimately remain with the Lord…we stay in the pasture of His will, we drink from the water of His word, we eat up the feast of HIs blessings, and we receive the outpouring of the oil of His Spirit.
As we continue to look deeper into Psalm 23 may we continue to draw nearer to the Lord and enjoy as he draws nearer to us (James 4:8).
Back in the saddle!
Hey Scribbles fam,
Well, after a week absence from writing, i’m back! I’ve been here in England on tour as well as doing other ministry opportunities which have literally kept me so busy this week i’ve not been able to approach my computer. Things have gotten less crazy however and now I am looking forward to some quality time drinking coffee, reading the word, and writing some posts. Praying all of you are blessed, and may the Lord continue to teach us and instruct us as we draw near to Him and abide in His truth!
Blessings and Peace
-Dan
Great Love Stories (Genesis 24:1-4)
“Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please, put your hand under my thigh, and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among who I dwell; but you shall go to my country and to my family and take a wife for my son Isaac.”
Genesis 24:1-4
The chapter to come is probably one of the greatest love stories in the Bible. It speaks of a Father’s concern for his son, a servants loving obedience to his master, and the love and commitment of a husband and wife.
This account of relationship and marriage is painted by a couple key elements: Providence, Persistence, and Prayer.
The same is true in the account of God honoring and successful relationships today!
God providentially brings them to be and orchestrates the process properly. Then we as servants must serve each other persistently. And at all times we must continue to sort through the journey prayerfully obeying and abiding in God’s truth and will. As we do we see the molding and meshing of beautiful relationships that speak great depth of the character, intimacy, and blessing of our Lord.
Portions of Promise (Genesis 23:19-20)
“And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. So the field and the cave that is in it were deeded to Abraham by the sons of Heth as property for a burial place.”
Genesis 23:19-20
So we see that Abraham purchased the field from Ephron. The field was in Machpelah, literally translated “Portion”. Interestingly the only portion of the Promised Land that God had allowed Abraham to actually own was the plot of land in which he buried his love and greatest desires. As time would pass this area would become the place where his sons and daughters to follow would lay to rest as well.
So too, the only thing we really possess, or the “Portion” we’ve been bestowed with here on earth is the free will to bury our ambitions and greatest desires safely into the hands of the author and perfector of our lives. As we purpose our lives to be submitted to God’s will we will see that His blessings and promise will expand into the lives of our children and on and on it goes.
As Abraham set that example and received the portion the trees of Mamre, translated “strength” became the place where God met and blessed Abraham’s children. In the same way the places in which we bury our will and say, “Lord your will be done” are the places that God will bless and meet us, and as our children follow suite they will experience the same with the Lord. What seemed like death to our greatest love and desires will become the launch pad for abundant and blessed life not only for us but for many to follow.
Abraham didn’t fully see the fulfillment of God’s promise in his lifetime, but his kids did. Because of his example and the way he laid all things to rest in the portion of the Lord, the generations to follow entered into the fulfillment of the Promised Land. Listen up parents, as you obey the Lord and lay to rest your personal desires and ambitions, as you deeply invest into the Lord and the portion He’s given you, you’ll see that your children will follow suite and will receive the fulfilled promises and blessings.
“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth…Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”
Hebrews 11:13-16
Don’t be discouraged folks; God isn’t slack on His promises. You might not see all of the fruit of your life here and now, perhaps your children will see the blessing where you had to experience the death; the wonderful truth is God has prepared something abundantly more wonderful in heaven. As we are faithful to receive this portion and invest into it we will see the return for eternity.
Conduct without Compromise (Genesis 23:10-13)
“Now Ephron dwelt among the sons of Heth; and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the presence of the sons of Heth, all who entered at the gate of his city, saying, “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field and the cave that is in it; I give it to you. Bury your dead!” Then Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land; and he spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land saying, “If you will give it, please hear me. I will give you money for the field; take it from me and I will bury my dead there.”
Genesis 23:10-13
The exchange here between Ephron and Abraham is a perfect example of what the bargaining process was back in the ancient Middle East. Upon further study one can begin to see quite a few similarities between what was and what the bargaining process is today. Being that Abraham valued Sarah so highly he wasn’t about to bury her in a tomb that cost him nothing. In the same way we as believers must not settle into compromise while conducting ourselves in this world. While others who don’t necessarily agree with Christian beliefs or understand the biblical convictions of those who follow Christ, we as believers must seek to live in such a way that shows just how wonderful the ways of the Lord are. As this world tries to have us bury our standards and principles in a way that would dishonor the value of Jesus’ life present in us, we must tenaciously hold to our standards so that we might honor properly that which God has given us.
To settle the exchange Abraham humbled himself by bowing, as he did the proper purchase of the tomb was possible and the relationship with the sons of Heth was strengthened. So too, if we expect to effectively carry out business and strengthen the relationships we have in this world without compromising our standards and faith, we must conduct ourselves as Christ.
“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
Philippians 2:3-8
You see, Jesus too humbled Himself without compromising His Holy standard. In doing so He won the entire human race something of the greatest benefit…salvation. Through lovingly exhibiting the character of Jesus Christ to those around us we too will not only be blessed in our lives for the glory of God but we’ll also win those around us unto a far greater purpose…an intimate personal relationship with God.
A Mighty Prince (Genesis 23:5-6)
“And the sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, hear us, my lord: You are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places. None of us will withhold from you his burial place, that you may bury your dead.”
Genesis 23:5-6
It’s amazing to see the favor that Abraham holds with the locals being that he is a “foreigner and a visitor in the land”. It’s a stark contrast to Lot who also being a stranger and visitor in his land actually held a high political office and prospered in his local region, however, when communicating with the locals they stated, “Who are you to us?” It’s interesting to me that Lot chose the greener grass, the nicer deal, and his selfish ambition drove him to compromise, and his example and witness was exactly that…compromised; his decision to honor himself while also trying to honor God hurt his ability to reach those around him and exemplify Holiness to those around him. Abraham on the other hand chose to honor God, yup…he made mistakes, but all in all his passion was to honor God first and exclusively, in doing so he was blessed and we see here that those around him noticed the blessings as well as his relationship with God, Abraham’s ability to minister to them and testify to his neighbors was so evident.
More recently I was teaching a general overview of Christianity in a college located in the southwest of England. After the session was done a student raised his hand and asked the question, “Do you often get insulted for being a Christian?” I responded to his question by sharing how when I was younger I often was timid and quiet about my faith because I was often afraid of what others might say or do to me if they knew of my faith in Jesus Christ. As I’ve matured in age and faith I’ve found that just the opposite is true. Like Abraham, the more open and honest I am about my faith, the more people notice. How they respond is out of my control, one thing is certain however, they will see me for who I am, and who I am will essentially lead them to the majesty of Jesus Christ or lead them away from the glory of God. Sure, I get a few people that insult me, but more importantly I get people that see firsthand the Lord’s presence in my life, and they recognize my standing among them, I am a “Son of the King” a “mighty prince” and the favor followed is the blessing imparted by our identity as such.
