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.
When one of our 13 great-grandchildren, Autumn Neilson, was two years old, she would sing 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 HERE. You can go to the Crossroads e-store to order a CD or DVD HERE.
Your friend and brother in Christ,
David
I watched 2 excellent ‘bible’ movies last night;The Story of Jonah and Pt 1 of
In the Beginning.I failed to find Pt 2 last night but found it this morning easily?
I’ll watch Pt 2 when I get home tomorrow night.Martin Landau does a great job in the role of Abram/Abraham.It was almost like being there ‘in the spirit’.Enjoy.God bless
PS:’Make no mistake’;the movies only supplement this bible teaching.Thanks Ron and Ann.God bless you.
In the Beginning Pt 1 & 2 :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIjbdGqVoYA
https://youtu.be/hAWgKneHJIs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpqX63AmV8U
The Story of Jonah—A Lesson in Courage (45 min.)
Written by a baby Christian:
Our Father
Oh God our Father you love us so,
We are blind and can not know
Just how great and kind you are,
Content to love us from afar.
We turn our backs and still you care;
We close our eyes but you are there,
But it’s You we rely on,
May you soon return to Zion.
We hurt you daily by endless sin
But still your light guides us in.
You could not know how weak we are
So you sent us Jesus to bear our scars.
We are a mixture of sin and praise,
But still you lift our spirits to raise
The love that you see in us still,
A desire to follow your holy will.
G W (Bill) Marshall /Oct 10,2011
Straight from the heart!! Thank u Bill. Blessings.
Oh!!!To be an Abraham……such faith. Blessings to one and all who read this precious blog.
Amen, and blessings and encouragement to all God’s children today, in Jesus’s wonderful little and big name (as there is greatness in all things, seen and unseen, through the microscope or telescope…)
A great song by Johnny Cash:
https://youtu.be/gK8eS73mAgE
How nice to hear about Bruce Stacey as I just saw him on one of my recorded programs called The 700 Club of Canada. A man to be proud of whether related to us or not:-). God bless us all in this beautiful land of ours. Praise the Lord they found the boys and teacher down in Thailand where they are trapped by flooded caves. I would imagine our heavenly Father heard all about it from concerned Christians. Thank you Jesus for giving all the boys and teacher a second chance.
Oh yes, thank God they are found. God is so faithful!!! His Love Soooo Great!! Thank you Jesus!! Amen!!
The boys are still in a precarious situation so keep praying. They just said on CTV news that it could be months before they can be brought out.
Thanks Doreen…yes, I heard the new in that regard! We do need to continue praying for their safe rescue; and for those who are working towards that goal.
Yes, am praying for the boys. Thank you William for the links to the movies and for all the postings on this day dear fellow believers.