“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” ( Philippians 4:19).
The story of Abraham and his nephew Lot who became so prosperous that once they had an interesting problem where their herdsmen started squabbling among themselves over land, is as instructive to us as then. “ Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold.. Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. And quarreling arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s” ( Genesis 13: 1-7).
Once the matter was brought to Abraham, his response was not to inflame the war, rather he “said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left” ( vv 8-9).
Lot who was certainly less in tune with God took the initiative with horns, “Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt…So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company” ( vv 10- 11).
And as we know, while Abraham may have initially looked like had a worse bargain, it was not so, “The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, .. all the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever… Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you” ( vv 14-17).
Sometimes we do run into those encounters where some more aggressive person is intent to push us to the edges. It can happen in everyday irritations like running into a most inconsiderate driver who wants to have the road to him, or, in consuming land tussles as we see here. Of course none would argue that believers should always give way, for there are times when one must take a stand for what God has given him. The Israelites still fight for the land God gave them to this day. Yet still there are those situations where one lets the nemesis have what is apparently the better portion and while he might seem to have lost out, only to be blessed by God mightily soon or later.
Prater today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, when faced with conflict I pray that I may put all my trust in you, for you have promised to take care of all my needs, this I pray in Jesus’s name.
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17/05/2024 - 18/05/2024 All day“And I in righteousness I shall see your face; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with seeing your likeness” (Psalm 17:15)
One of the defining aspects we see in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ is that He began the day with prayer. “Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). As he was always surrounded by crowds and after such a busy day before of preaching and engaging the Pharisees in debates this must have been a therapeutic moment for Christ when he would have some good time to himself.
But there was also more. For Jesus being away in a secluded place would also mean a chance to pour out His heart to God, meditate in quietness, plan for the day ahead and listen to the Father. Jesus must have looked up to this moment every day knowing its benefits. Conversations with His Father must have been real and intimate, bringing a certain soothing and uplifting of His spirit. You do not wake up and stick to something on a daily basis that is a drag – this must have been his best time of the day!
Martin Luther the leader of the protestant reformation is reputed to once have said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Here is the point. In the olden days before the arrival of locomotive transport those who were setting out for a long journey on foot had to start early with the first cock crow before the punishing sun came out. One of the things they had to start with also was a good meal, which was fuel needed to give them energy through the long walk to their destiny.
There are no rules about waking up to pray as first thing- or even saying prayer at a defined hour of the day. God is everywhere and ever with us. He is accessible at any time of the day. But there is something special about prioritizing our lives that the first thing we do is to talk to God. Just like the early traveller we need fuel, for the long day ahead!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a joy and privilege to make time at the start of any day, talk and hear from you, for the power I need through the day, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
