September 23 | Genesis 12:10-20

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DAILY READING

Genesis 12:10-20

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REFLECTION

Heroes of the Bible

by Pr. Dave Mann

Who are the great heroes of the Bible? There must be many. Right? One might name Peter, the lead disciple. Oh, but he denied Jesus three times. Well, what about James and John? But they selfishly vied to have the places of honor in Jesus’ kingdom, seated at his right and left hand. Let’s try King David, a man after God’s own heart. However, he was an adulterer and ordered the death of the woman’s husband. What about Moses? Oh, but he killed a man. Well, then there is Abraham, the man chosen by God to be the father of the great nation through whom the entire world would be blessed. (See Genesis 12:1-3). Surely, he could be considered a hero. Hmm.

Nevertheless, not long after the Lord appeared to him, Abram and his wife, Sarai, went to Egypt because of a famine. When they were there, Abram feared for his own life. He thought because his wife was so beautiful, other men would kill him. So, he got Sarai to go along with his plan to save his own skin – that they should tell everyone that Sarai was his sister, not his wife! Because of that, Pharoah briefly took Sarai as his wife. In addition, Abram was enriched by Pharoah with sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels. Is this how a hero behaves? Hardly!

So, who is the hero in the Bible?  The Lord Jesus Christ is THE hero in the Bible.  In addition, the message of the Bible is that God takes all kinds of misfits, all kinds of selfish people, all kinds of sinners, and he blesses them and uses them through his grace.

Take a look at any of the main characters of the Bible whose lives are described in some detail. Chances are you will find an embarrassing story or two. How would you like your life to be chronicled in the number 1 bestseller of all time? The purpose of the Bible is not to create a spiritual Hall of Fame, but rather to give God glory and to bring people into relationship with him.

Aren’t you glad? Perhaps the Lord can even use you and me. If he used Abram, who pawned off his wife as his sister, maybe my sins can be forgiven also. Maybe what I have done will not disqualify me from receiving the Lord’s blessings.

PRAYER

Lord God, thank you for choosing the misfits of history to be in your family. That gives me confidence that you love me, warts and all. I bring myself, my failures, and my sins and lay them before you. I count on your forgiveness and grace to make me a part of your family, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

September 22 | Genesis 12:1-9 |

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DAILY READING

Genesis 12:1-9

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REFLECTION

God's Choice, Not Mine

by Elaine Pierce

Why did God choose Abram? Was it because of his godly character? Did he 'earn' the right to be the Father of a new nation, the chosen people? We know almost nothing about him before Genesis 12. HIs father was a nomad, Terah, who had 3 sons: Abram, Nahor and Haran. We also learn that he was - gulp - 75 years old when God gave him his assignment to leave his home and 'go to the land I will show you. (v. 1).'

Abram (who God later renames Abraham) obeyed God: 'So Abram left, as the Lord had told him (v. 4).' If you read on in Genesis, you will learn that Abraham didn't always obey God, and his sin caused a lot of grief to him, his wife, and those around him. He was imperfect, just like us, but he is included in the 'Hall of Faith' chapter in Hebrews 11:

By faith, Abraham, even though he was past age - and Sarah, herself was barren - was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. Hebrews 11:11-12.

No, Abram didn't earn God's favor. God chooses, and we respond. We don't sit down with our resume and interview for the position we think we deserve. God has given each of us gifts to bless others and advance his kingdom. He will not force us to use them for good. But when we come to him, acknowledge that his is the creator and we are the creation, he will use us for his glory.

Take time today, and every day, to ask God to show you how you can serve him. He will direct your path. Thanks be to God!

PRAYER

Thank you, Lord, that you love me and have a plan for my life - a plan that I so often fail to see, as I am caught up in what I think is best. Help me to put my life in your hands, and to follow you, day by day, hour by hour, for it's only when I am listening to you that I am truly able to serve and obey. Amen.

September 21 | Genesis 11:1-9 |

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DAILY READING

Genesis 11:1-9

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REFLECTION

What Are You Building?

by Mary Alice McGinnis

What dreams are you pursuing in your life? How confident are you that you will reach that dream?

In my teens, I had a dream that I would spend my life in serving God in full time ministry. I had this picture of the “perfect life” where everything was neat and tidy, and I would be looked upon as a “hero” of faith. “I” was going to do this, and “I” was going to do that. I thought I had it all figured out.

Notice all the “I's”? Do you also hear the echo of egocentric defiance in today’s reading? 

“Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”

This story comes right after the account of God giving Noah a promise and command after the flood. God’s command to this new generation was clear, in Genesis 9:1: “Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.”

Instead of pursuing God’s purpose, they started building their own tower of significance, pursuing their own path to self-reliance. They did not want to trust God's ways.

This caused me to pause and ask myself, where in my life am I trying to build my own tower of significance? Where am I allowing my ego, my pride, my self-sufficiency get in the way of God’s purposes in my life and in His Kingdom.

As my life unfolded, one obstacle after another laid in my path. My well-planned life got so ugly that parts of it still bring me overpowering shame. Things that I so carefully constructed lead me in the wrong direction. The stable tower I once relied upon was shaken, and I found myself in chaos and confusion. Perhaps you have found yourself there too, maybe even right now.

Have you considered this? Perhaps God must destroy everything we put our trust in in order redirect our hearts back to Him. He lovingly curbs our climbing towards empty pursuits. He knows the ONLY thing that will truly fulfil us is complete dependence upon Him!

Religion is always based upon humans trying to “reach the heavens.”

The unique beauty of our One TRUE God is that He came reaching for US!

Where is God prompting you to thank Him for the times He has redirected your dreams? Where is He speaking words of loving forgiveness and kindness over the places of ego and shame in your heart?

Where is He leading You back to not what YOU can do, but what He has DONE FOR YOU!

PRAYER

Use the lyrics of this song “No Survivors” by Jeremy Camp as your prayer today.

"You told me it's Your battle, God, so I need You to fight!

'Cause if I'm gonna live then there's some things that need to die.

My ego, my pride.

My grip on my life.

Throw it all into the fire

And leave no survivors"

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AUTHOR BIO

Mary Alice McGinnis

I began reading the Bible for the first time at the age of 14. When I read the book of Proverbs, I found this collection of practical wisdom both challenging and inspiring. Instead of the typical posters you might find on a teenager’s bedroom walls, my room was splashed with handmade posters - quotes from the book of Proverbs. The Proverbs unique way of expressing deep truths helped lay a foundation in my walk with God.