BELIEVE
Today’s Reading: Genesis 14-15
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The view while descending to the lowest point on earth - The Dead Sea. On the far side of the Dead Sea is the Kingdom of Jordan with the mountains of Moab seen along the horizon. Abraham would've seen this view, minus the modern highway.
Key Verse: Genesis 15:6
And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
The Apostle Paul picks up this story (Romans 4:2-3): “For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.'” If you have the time, read the entirety of Romans 4. Our works will never gain us a place in Heaven, nor will they guarantee the presence of God here and now. However, our actions are noticed by God and can result in God’s action towards us (e.g. Cornelius Acts 10:4b, “Your prayers and your alms (donations) have come up for a memorial before God”). James 2:20 says, “Faith without works is dead.” Works provide an outward and tangible confirmation of the inward motivating force behind them, belief and trust in God.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father God, thank You for Your unconditional love and for Your righteousness given to me as a result of my faith in You. Like Abram (His name was not yet changed), I believe in You. Thank You for Your friend, Abram, who is a great example for me. I pray this in the Name of Jesus, Who is the greatest Example. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I’m so impressed by Abram’s attitude toward God and people. Yes, he believed God! He also showed this by works. I hate to admit this, but I think that Abram may have had something in common with an Afghan Warlord (a righteous one). Abram had a private Army. He was definitely not your average farmer. In today’s reading he risked his own life to rescue his nephew Lot and the other Sodomites. He tried (unsuccessfully) to turn the King of Sodom and the Sodomites he had rescued to God by introducing them to the priest of the most high God, Melchizedek. He paid his tithe. Abram’s attitude, overall, was impressive.
One of our nine great-grandchildren, Autumn Neilson, is four years old now. I remember when she was two and she visited us. She sang over and over a song about attitude based on Philippians 2:5, written by her grandfather, Bruce Stacey, husband of my daughter Elaine: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” All but the newest of my great-grandchildren have memorized dozens of Bible verses because of these songs. Check out God Rocks Bibletoons Scripture songs online at www.godrocks.com. Go to the store to order a CD or download Bibletoons songs for .99 cents per song. The proceeds help support more children’s productions.
Your friend and brother in Christ,
David
P.S. On the July 1st edition of the 100 Huntley Street telecast, survey results were shared which showed a serious decline in Bible reading in Canada. Efforts such as Bibletoons and 100words.ca are designed to reverse this trend (click here for Dr. John Hull, Crossroads Global CEO, and his guests discussing Bible reading).
Awesome photo, today; thank you, Reynold! God’s covenant with Abram is solid and true. Righteousness is built upon the Word and promises of God! Our covenant with God has to remain the same. We must be dedicated 100% to serving Him and living by His Word. Amen! Looking forward to reading Romans 4, this morning.
According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. Ephesians 1:4.
Somehow the feeling of the soft mist in the morning rising off the lake gives call to our renewed faith in God as He lifts us up to another day of life. Splendid is our Lord, God almighty, who was and is, and is to come. Blessings fellow saints!
I have always admired Abraham’s obedience and courage. i Pray God will help us all stay on track in our Christian Journey. May we always Hunger and Thirst for His righteousness. Amen
My country Sierra leone is one of the 3 countries that is struggling with the new killer outbreak, EBOLA. some of you must have seen it on the news. This virus has no anti virus at the moment and no cure. the latest report was that 700 people are reported to have contacted the virus and 467 from the 3 countries DEAD. This makes me so worried as that is where all my extended family lives, and i do come from a big family. The only solution i can think of is prayers and faith in GOD. There is nothing God can not do. I ask you all to please remember these countries in your prayers. God is in control
Dear Lord we agree together as You have written in Your word Any two agree as touching it shall be done by Our Father in heaven
we agree together for this Ebola outbreak to Go in the name of Jesusand we thank You Precious Lord for answering our prayer
Help every Christian to be eating the Word of God daily as their staple food Help us Lord to Eat Your Word and have a great hunger for it in Jesus name Amen
Amen. And thank you Brenda.
There is power in this prayer, amen!
Thank you Brenda for your prayer and may I add that these dear souls in these countries will know the saving grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Praying for your family Patricia.
in agreement with everybody. AMEN!! thank you all
Amen….
Beautiful pic, thanks Reynold.
Thanks so much for the godrocks link Rev. DM. Have a grandson up-and-coming in Nov. and want to bombard him with stories of Jesus and God’s word. Never thought we would have a flesh-and-blood grandchild but like Abram God is blessing us in our senior years.
I pray for the safety of the grandparents and their grandson who have disappeared in Calgary.
In God we trust.
Lynda, so very pleased for you. Wonderful to be a grandparent to previous children and share Jesus with them. We have 8!!!
P.s. Precious children
Thank you Catherine. Can hardly wait:-) and so happy you have 8 dear little souls to coddle.
It certainly makes a difference reading the bible while following a programme. Without some commentary, the time many spend reading scripture itself can sometimes leave one in a quandary. Eventually, all things fall into place as we let the bible interpret the bible. Until then, laugh at the confusion, seek understanding in prayer and know everything happens for a reason. His strength and blessings, to all!
Amen to that David!
Yes, amen to that David and thanks for stating it.
“If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Mt 17:20 And we rely on our unified faith, dear Heavenly Father, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and the sanctity of the Holy Spirit; that the ebola virus comes to a complete halt, an anti-virus takes root, and the healing in Africa begins. For we are reassured by Your Word. “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Mt 18:19-20 In Jesus’ mighty Name, we pray, amen, amen, and amen.
Amen and Amen!
Amen Beverlee!!
Amen
a big Amen Berverlee!! Powerful prayer and reminder! It is well! and again i say AMEN!! Thank you
Thanks for that Beverlee. God bless.
Amen! Lord give us the faith of Abraham! Had a wind and hailstorm the size of marbles last night which cut down trees and flowers. Hydro out seven hours till three this morning and just got my computer running and printing. Thought of that” great and terrible day of the Lord” and prayed for the lost. Congratulations Beverlee on your art show. Blessings everyone!
Amen Ger. The Lord is your strength and protector, He was with you through it all and still is with you.
Oh to have the faith and obedience of Abram. However I know The Lord is not finished with me yet as I continue to be fed by His Word daily and other studies, I know The Holy Spirit of the Living God is working in me.
Thank you Pastor David and fellow bloggers for your daily encouragement.
Wonderful picture yet again Reynold.
Our precious Lord Jesus works in wondrous ways. He hears our prayers as we call out to him. Why, Why is not the right question. May the Holy Spirit of God bless our prayers this day! In Jesus name Amen!
Blessings from Heaven to all this day! Have a good one fellow bloggers…
The power of prayer is awesome. Just have a look at this one from today in godvine.com
http://www.godvine.com/read/Covered-by-the-Cloud-597.html?utm_source=GodVine%20Daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=07/03/2014
What a wonderful miracle DL. The Godvine website is such a great wealth of stories to touch our hearts. Thanks David.
Thanks for the link to the godvine.com site, David.
I strongly urge everyone to click on the link to the interview with Dr Hull. It is very troubling to know that Bible reading is declining even among Christians. We must be an example to those around us, studying Scripture daily, and living the truth of God’s word in our daily lives.
That is a very sad truth. I’m part of a ladies group who have been discussing this and wondering how Christians can live without His Word!!
I have been enjoying my second journey through the Bible and David insights. Is anyone else having trouble with the audio? I liked listening as I read the scripture. It helped me stay focused especially through the tedious portions of begats
Yes Louise, I cannot get the audio anymore. I thought it was my computer, but perhaps not.
I would like to ask my fellow bloggers for prayer for my daughter in law, Jin, who has just been diagnosed with breast cancer and is having the lump removed on July 14th. She is Chinese, raised in Beijing, and not a believer. I believe my son accepted The Lord when he was young but has not been living for The Lord for many years. They are good, upright people but need theLord. They have a 5 year old son. Thank you in advance for holding them up in prayer.
Jin is on my prayer list Louise. My niece also has breast cancer so I can empathise. Blessings on you and your precious family.
Thank you Lynda!! God answers prayer and this may offer the opening I’ve needed!!
Praying for Jin, and her upcoming surgery, Louise; for your son, and grandson. God’s protection and angels surround them, all. And for you, as well, Louise.
Dear Rev David M,
I am so grateful once more for this morning’s gospel. And I will praying for complete success of the launching of your new radio station that I got the good news this morning on 100 Huntley St. for all those who didn’t get the chance to watch this show, let me post you this exciting new project of your wonderful ministry with a CEO, John Hull at its wheel: long live the King, Jesus Christ and let God’s Precious Word fill the whole world!
http://ca.100huntley.com/video?fID=324407
Keeping each of you under prayer in Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
Have a blessed day everyone,
xxxxCarole
The Bible is the road map to life…without it we will easily go astray! I pray Lord Jesus that by your Holy Spirit many more will be drawn to this blog, and to Your Word.
I enjoy this Bibie study time I use Biblegateway.com and when someone is reading the scripture it seems as if I have someone else in the room with me! In enjoy the pictures and the different links Praise God and thank you Mr. David Mainse I am still looking and believing in a miracle need to help someone praying for the Lord to provide $276.59 by the 6th/7. I am praying to the same God Abraham, and Isaac and John and Peter and to the woman at the well to Lazarus to the officer who asked Jesus to heal his daughter, he said I know I know about authority if I say do this they do You just need to speak the words! I enjoy this Bibile study so very much. Its short and just long enough to be nourishing. Yes discipline I needed. Praise the Lord! This Bibie study also reminds to confess my sins daily. Praise the Lord. Thankful for His forgiveness! Thankful for His unconditional love! AMEN
Check what Paul says in Galatians 3:15-18.
Profound. Jesus is the seed! Amen!