Devotions – Page 19

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Faith=Righteousness

Posted by Karah

Pause

Sing praises to God today, worshiping Him for who He is and what He has done.

Reread Genesis 15:1-6 in your Bible, focusing on verse 6.

“Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.” —Genesis 15:6

The Hebrew word translated “believed” is a construction that means to place trust in someone with confidence. What does that help you to understand about Abraham’s faith in God and His promises? Explain.

When the word righteousness is used in the Bible, it means having right standing before God. How did Abraham find right standing before God, according to Genesis 15:6?

With Genesis 15:6 in mind, read Romans 4:1-19 in your Bible. Focus on verse 13.

“For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.” —Romans 4:13

The Jews were relying on their heritage as God’s chosen people and their adherence to the law to make them right before God. But Paul argued that those things weren’t even what made Abraham, the father of the Jews, righteous.

According to these verses, what made Abraham right before God? Explain.

What things do people in the world think will make them right before God? List a few ideas.

What do you depend on to declare you right before God? Why?

The Point

Our covenant God makes people righteous by their faith.

Respond

Righteousness is about faith, not about doing good deeds or being a good person. There is only one way to be justified before God and that is by faith.

Consider what you base your standing before God on. Jesus died and rose again for your salvation and believing that is the only way to truly know God. Does your faith rest in this truth?

As a Christian, do you sometimes find yourself trying to earn more of God’s favor or living like your faith is a checklist of rules and good deeds? Confess this attitude to God. Ask Him to remind you of all He has done to save you.

Behind the Story

Imputation is a fancy, theological word that means reckoning something to another person. This is exactly what happened with Abraham—God credited to Abraham something he did not have in himself—and is also what happens when we accept Jesus as our Savior.²

²Trent Butler, “Impute,” Holman Bible Dictionary, studylight.org, [cited 19 April 2014]. Available from Internet: http://www.studylight.org.

Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest Alumni and Friends, Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission., Weekly Devotions | Leave a reply

Set Apart

Posted by Karah

Pause

Ponder this quote from Charles Spurgeon as you begin your time with God:

“God has set apart His people from before the foundation of the world to be His chosen and peculiar inheritance.”

The Masters is a major golf tournament played annually in Augusta, Ga. Winners receive a unique prize—a green jacket—that sets them apart as members of an elite group. Only the 300 or so members of the August National Golf Club and Masters winners are allowed to wear the jacket.

Think about that idea of being set apart as you read Genesis 17:9-27 in your Bible.

“Throughout your generations, every male among you at eight days old is to be circumcised. This includes a slave born in your house and one purchased with money from any foreigner. The one who is not your offspring, a slave born in your house, as well as one purchased with money, must be circumcised. My covenant will be marked in your flesh as an everlasting covenant.” —Genesis 17:12-13

By commanding Abraham and his descendants to be circumcised, God was creating an outward sign that would set His covenant people apart from the pagan world.

Circumcision wasn’t a new practice God created for this occasion; other ancient cultures practiced it, usually to signify ownership or loyalty to an authority. So, when God instructed Abraham and his descendants to do this, what was He really asking of them? Explain.

God gave circumcision a new meaning by making it the symbol of His covenant with a specific, set apart group of people. Do you think God is still calling people to be set apart for Him? Why or why not?

The Point

God’s people are distinctly set apart. He is still setting people apart today.

Respond

If you have a relationship with Christ, you have been called to a set-apart life. Record a short statement of commitment and loyalty below.

What does being set apart look like for Christians today? For further study, check out 1 Peter 2:9-10 and Romans 12:2.

Behind the Story

In Scripture, the concept of circumcision is sometimes used metaphorically. In Deuteronomy 10:16 and Jeremiah 4:4, circumcision of the heart refers to total devotion to God. The uncircumcised were regarded as those who are insensitive to God’s leadership. Circumcision, then, was an external sign of singular devotion to God.

Fully Committed

Posted by Karah

Pause

Prepare to hear from the Lord by getting rid of anything that could distract you. Ask God to speak to you through His Word today.

How do you handle stress, anxiety, or fear? Circle all that apply.

Pray

Think about it constantly

Read Scripture

Focus on something else

Exercise

Ignore the stress

Rely on comforts

Talk with a wise friend

Stay busy

It’s easy to let fear and stress overwhelm us and take our eyes off God and His promises. That was even true of Abram.

Read Genesis 15:1-21 in your Bible. As you read, underline Abram’s responses that reveal his anxiety and fear.

“On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I give this land to your offspring, from the brook of Egypt to the Euphrates River.”

—Genesis 15:18

Consider these questions:

How did God respond to Abram’s worries? Why was reaffirming His promises to Abram an appropriate response?

Take a closer look at verses 1-5 and 7. How did Abram respond? When have you responded to God like that? Why?

Review the definition of the word covenant. In what ways does this word describe God? Explain.

COVENANT n. – A formal and serious agreement or promise.

How did God show that He is a covenant God in these verses? Jot down a few ideas.

The Point

God is not distant, but desires to covenant with His people. He is fully committed to His plan and His people.

Respond

God is a covenant God because He is faithful to His promises, including redemption. Because He is a covenant God, we can trust Him.

God’s Word is full of promises. In your journal, jot down a few things you know God has promised in Scripture. Spend some time praising God for these truths and how He’s shown Himself to be faithful in them.

As believers, we share in Abraham’s covenant. For further study, read Galatians 3:6-7.

Behind the Story

One important part of sealing a covenant was sacrifice. The Hebrew expression for making a covenant literally means to cut a covenant. This may refer to the practice of cutting an animal in half and walking between its pieces seen in this passage.¹

¹Martin H. Manser, “Covenants, Nature of,” Dictionary of Bible Themes, [cited 19 April 2014]. Available from the Internet: https://www.BibleGateway.com.

Reminders

Posted by Karah

Pause

Close your eyes today and sit in silence, focusing your mind and heart on God.

Today, we reach a point in Abram’s story where he needed a reminder. God had promised to make Abram’s descendents into a great nation and to bless him with land, but years had passed. The fulfillment of God’s promises seemed no closer than they had in the beginning.

Read Genesis 13:14-18. As you read, look for God’s gentle reminder. Underline it in your Bible when you find it.

“After Lot had separated from him, the Lord said to Abram, “Look from the place where you are. Look north and south, east and west, for I will give you and your offspring forever all the land that you see. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted.” —Genesis 13:14-17

God helped Abram to refocus on what was true: God’s promises. When has God done the same for you? Explain.

Continuing to follow God and trust His plan when it seems like nothing is happening is difficult. Who in your life has been a good example of trusting God even when it was difficult to see how God was at work in a situation? What have you learned from that person’s example?

In what situations in your life do you find it difficult to see God at work? Are there circumstances that you don’t think could be any part of His plan? List a few.

The Point

God continually reminded Abram of His plan, even when Abram couldn’t see it. He does the same for us.

Respond

Pray over the list you just created. Ask God to open your eyes to how He is at work in those situations. Pray that He would help you trust Him even when you can’t see what He’s doing.

Look through an old journal or think back over your life. How can you see God’s hand on your life, bringing you to where you are today? Thank God for how He has worked in your life and how He will continue to do so in the future.

Who in your life needs a reminder that God is still at work? What steps will you take this week to remind that person how God is working through them? List two.
Memorize Philippians 1:6. Recite it when you feel discouraged or can’t see how God is working through you. Share it with Christian friends who need encouragement.

Behind the Story

The place of worship mentioned in Genesis 13:18 is the first and only piece of land that Abram actually owned in Canaan. While his descendants would be given the entire promised land, Abram was merely a sojourner there. He did, however, buy this plot of land—the field of Machpelah near Mamre—as a burial site for Sarah. He was eventually buried there, too.

An Unstoppable Story

Posted by Karah

Pause

Even as Christians, we falter and stumble as we walk with God. We often react out of fear rather than resting in and trusting God’s promises.

Read Genesis 12:10-20 in your Bible for an example from Abram’s life. Dig a little deeper with the questions below.

“When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look, I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ They will kill me but let you live. Please say you’re my sister so it will go well for me because of you, and my life will be spared on your account.” —Genesis 12:11-13

Abram’s faith was immediately tested by a famine. Yet, the text doesn’t fault Abram for making the trip. If that wasn’t his act of disobedience, what was? Explain.

This episode from Abram’s life shows us that God will not allow His promises to be jeopardized, even in the face of our failures or a momentary lack of faith. How do you see that in this passage? How have you seen it in your own life?

Think about times when you’ve faltered in your faith or let sin take hold in your life. How does this story give you hope? Explain.

The Point

Nothing can thwart God’s plans, not even our failures.

Respond

Motivated by fear, Abram crafted a plan of action based on his circumstances rather than God’s promises. Think on that as you meditate on these questions:

How am I living out of fear rather than trusting God to do what He has said?

In what situations am I most tempted to rely on myself than what God has said?

How do I see those choices affecting my life? My relationship with God? My relationships with others?

Do I have a Christian friend who has stumbled in his or her faith and is allowing guilt and shame keep him or her from growing in Christ? What steps will I take this week to share the hope of this passage with him or her? List two.

Behind the Story

Sadly, this incident with Pharaoh wasn’t the only time Abram lied about Sarai being his wife. Genesis 20 records a similar incident with King Abimilech of Gerar that reveals much about Abram’s rationale and premeditated deception. Abram’s son, Isaac, also followed in his father’s footsteps, passing his wife Rebekah off as his sister to another King Abimelech in Genesis 26.

Bold Obedience

Posted by Karah

Pause

Ponder this quote to begin your time with God today:

“[To have faith in Christ] means, of course, trying to do all that He says. . . . Thus if you have really handed yourself over to Him, it must follow that you are trying to obey Him.” —C.S. Lewis

So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated, and the people he had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan. —Genesis 12:4-5a

Reread Genesis 12:1-3 one more time this week. Then, read Genesis 12:4-9 carefully. Consider these questions:

Underline the first three words in verse 4. Why are these words so important? Explain.

God’s promises to Abram seemed impossible and unlikely. He promised a childless old man that he would be the father of many nations and that he would possess a land that already belonged to someone else. Yet, Abram stepped out in obedience.

When have you seen someone step out in radical obedience to God, even though what they were doing seemed difficult, unlikely, or impossible? What have you learned from that person’s example?

God called Abram to leave behind all that was comfortable and familiar to him and follow where He would lead. What familiar or comfortable things has God called you to leave behind in the past? What might He be calling you to leave behind now?

The Point

When God called, Abram obeyed. God is still inviting people to be a part of His story. When He calls, we must choose to obey.

Respond

Look at the list of familiar and comfortable things God might want you leave behind to follow Him. Maybe it’s a relationship, a life-long dream, or an attitude you’ve had for a long time.

What steps will you take this week to follow God in obedience in those things? List two to three below.

Maybe the most honest prayer you can pray right now is to ask God to give you the desire to be boldly and radically obedient to Him despite fear or doubt about leaving behind all that is familiar or comfortable. Record your prayer in your journal.

For further study, read Radical or Follow Me by David Platt. Listen to “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” by Hillsong United (Zion, 2013).

Behind the Story

Schechem was located at a strategic pass between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, about 41 miles north of Jerusalem. “The oak of Moreh” probably referred to a Canaanite shrine. The Canaanites worshiped many gods and believed fertile groves of trees to be sacred. The oak is mentioned a few more times in the Old Testament, in Genesis 35:4 and Judges 9:6,37.

A Blessing to All Nations

Posted by Karah

Pause

Find a different location for your time with God today, somewhere you don’t usually go. Ask God to speak to you in a new way as you study His Word.

Read Genesis 12:1-3 aloud today, then dig into the deeper meaning behind God’s words of blessing to Abram.

“I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, I will curse those who treat you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

—Genesis 12:2-3

Great Nation: A nation generally involved a great population with common land, language, and government. Yet God made this promise to a 75-year-old man with no children and a wife well past childbearing.

Make your name great: Through his obedience to God, Abram would achieve the fame the builders at Babel (Gen. 11) had sought. Think over what you know about Abram, the Old Testament, and God’s chosen people, the Jews. How do you know God fulfilled this promise?

All the peoples: “All” is the Hebrew word kol, which means every. God’s promise to Abram would spread to the whole world through Abram, Israel, the prophets, and eventually, the Messiah. How is the Messiah a blessing to all people? Explain.

Look over God’s promise to Abram one more time. What does this blessing have to do with you? What parts of it affect you? How?

The Point

God’s promise to Abram isn’t just a nice historical story. Through Abram would come the Messiah, our only hope of salvation.

Respond

Abram would enjoy land, descendants, and blessing, but he would also be a part of something much bigger. From Abram’s line would come the Messiah.

Take some time to meditate on and revel in the scope and intricacy of God’s plan. All those years ago, He was at work, putting the pieces of His story together so that redemption—your redemption—would be possible. Record your prayer of praise in your journal.

For further study on this topic, read Romans 9:4-5 and Galatians 3:8,16.

Behind the Story

The word translated “nation” in verse 2 is the Hebrew word goy. It literally means nation and was used to refer to the Jewish nation (Gen. 12:2; Ex. 19:6). In later usage, the word began to be used in a derogatory way to describe those who were not of Jewish descent. In modern Hebrew and Yiddish, goy is the standard term used to mean Gentile. Through Abram, God would create the Jewish nation. And through Abram’s line would come the Messiah, the Savior for Jews and Gentiles alike.

Promise Keeper

Posted by Karah

Pause

Skim over God’s words to Abram in Genesis 12:1-3. Thank God that He is a God who does what He promises.

The Lord said to Abram:

“Go out from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.”

—Genesis 12:1-2

A good story has a strong protagonist, the lead character and chief actor. The protagonist moves the action forward; his decisions initiate and advance the plot. Read over Genesis 12:1-3, then dig deeper with these questions:

Who is the Protagonist in these verses? Why?

Look back over verses 1-3, underlining in your Bible all the “I will” statements God made to Abram. How do you see God acting as the Initiator of the action in these verses? Explain.

How do you see the scope and greatness of God’s great plan coming into focus in this passage?

The Point

God isn’t just the Protagonist of His story. He is the One who guarantees that what He has said will happen.

Respond

God didn’t give Abram a bunch of requirements he had to meet before God would fulfill His promises. God didn’t say, “When you do this, then I’ll . . .” when He called Abram. God didn’t predict Abram’s future; He promised it. To have that future, all Abram had to do was respond.

The same is true of us. Through Jesus, God has promised us salvation, forgiveness of sin, and an eternity with Him. But to have that guaranteed future, we must respond to His gospel.

If you have placed your faith in Christ, you don’t have to be mired in doubt and fear about your future. What God has promised is sure. Rest in the security of the hope He gives today.

For further study on God’s faithfulness, read Psalm 117; 1 Corinthians 1:4-9; 2 Timothy 2:11-13; and 1 John 1:9. Listen to “Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)” by Chris Tomlin (Burning Lights, 2013).

Behind the Story

The call of Abram in Genesis 12 uses many poetic elements, but the most prominent one is repetition. The call involves juxtaposition between the second person pronouns (“you” and “yours”) and the first person verbs (“I will”). This all works together to make it clear that Abram is the recipient and God is the “Promiser.”

Still His Story

Posted by Karah

Pause

Take a few minutes to write down everything that is pulling your attention away from God. Pray over the list, then focus your mind on Christ.

Read over Genesis 11:1-9 in your Bible. Take a moment to set the scene for these verses. What words would you use to describe the culture? The peoples’ attitude toward God?

“And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky. Let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise, we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” —Genesis 11:4

Dig a little deeper with these questions.

The flood had been a new beginning for the world, but humanity’s sin nature didn’t go away when the flood waters receded. How are today’s verses an example of that? Explain.

Think back to Adam and Eve’s sin in Genesis 3, then reread Genesis 11:4. Adam and Eve sinned against God by trying to achieve power and knowledge independent of Him and the ways He had provided. How does the story in Genesis 11 echo that idea?

Reread verses 5-9 and consider God’s response to the peoples’ plan to make their own names famous. How does that help you to see that God is still the main Character of Scripture and it is His story? Explain.

The Point

We should live to make His name famous, not our own.

Respond

The people in Genesis 11 focused all their energy and effort on something they thought would bring them fame and power, which they equated with security.

When do you find yourself trying to find security, safety, or hope in something other than God? Be honest before God, confessing anything that is keeping Him from His rightful place as the Author and Main Character of your story.

What are you putting all of your energy into right now? Is the focus of all that energy about making God famous or making a name for yourself?

For further study, read “A Giant Staircase to Heaven” in The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones.

Behind the Story

Building the tower was sinful because of the pride and arrogance involved, but also because it was an act of disobedience. In Genesis 9:1, God had commanded Noah and his family to spread out over the earth and continue multiplying in order to “fill the earth.” Ultimately, instead of obeying God, the people decided they didn’t want to be scattered across the earth and attempted to build their own fame rather than obeying and glorifying God.

Grateful Praise

Posted by Karah

Pause

Think back over the story of Noah and how the flood played a role in God’s redemption story. Thank God for teaching you new truths and invite Him to speak to you again today.

Recall a time when someone did something unexpectedly nice for you—completed a chore you didn’t have the time to do, gave you money for camp or a mission trip, or did that task at work that you despise the most. What emotions did you feel? How did you respond? Jot down a few thoughts.

Now, for the last time, read over Genesis 8:15-22 in your Bible. Then, focus in on verses 20-21.

“Then Noah built an altar to the Lord. He took some of every kind of clean animal and every kind of clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. When the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, He said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, even though man’s inclination is evil from his youth. And I will never again strike down every living thing as I have done.” —Genesis 8:20-21

Think about how you felt when someone did something unexpectedly nice for you. Now, think about what God had just done for Noah. How did Noah respond to God’s work in his life?

The flood had destroyed everyone and every thing in the world, but God had saved Noah and his family. Noah responded with worship and sacrifice.

Look closely at verse 20. Noah sacrificed from “every kind” of clean animal, going well beyond what was necessary. What does that tell you about His level of gratefulness to God?

As a Christian, how grateful are you for the rescue from sin God has given you? How does your life reflect your gratefulness?

The Point

Great salvation calls for great worship.

Respond

Noah didn’t hop off the ark, say “Thanks, God,” and go on his merry way. He worshiped, going above and beyond the norm by offering sacrifices of “every kind.”

Go above and beyond your norm to show God gratefulness for salvation. Whatever that means for you, do it, because He has gone above and beyond for you. For ideas, read Psalm 51:16-17 and 19:14.

Sin can get in the way of experiencing the joy of your salvation. Read Psalm 51 and confess any sin the Holy Spirit reveals in your life. Personalize verse 12 as your prayer to God.

Behind the Story

Noah’s account in God’s story is the first time we find the use of the words clean and burnt in regards to sacrificial offerings. These two terms became an important part of life for God’s people. Clean refers to something that is holy or acceptable to God, and the Old Testament describes laws about that in detail in Leviticus 11. A burnt offering was an offering completely burned to ashes. It was used in connection with worship, seeking God’s favor, to pay for sin, or preventing judgment.

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