Genesis 21:14

"And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child. and sent her away: and she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba."

Wow. Here we have the old testament story of Abraham sending away Hagar, Sarah's handmaiden. God had Promised to Abraham years before that He was going to bring forth a child miraculously, and that from him, Abrahams descendants would be God's chosen people. When the promise was made, both Abraham and Sarah were way past child bearing years. Abraham was 100 and Sarah was ninety when it came to pass some 13 years later. In that time though, Sarah had a plan. She believed God but decided to help him accomplish it. She gave Hagar her handmaiden to Abraham to conceive children with. The result of that was Ishmael, the father of the muslims. Isaac and the Jacob were the promised line of the jews. So what does this mean for us? It's a picture of the flesh. Isaac represents how we are to trust and walk after the spirit and Ishmael represents the flesh. Sarah I believe meant well, but didn't think through the promise. It was specific. It was to be from her womb. So now here they are 13 years later with the promise of God fulfilled through Isaac, yet Ishmael, the bible says was mocking him. Sarah then said it's time for them to hit the road Abe. They can't be here no more. You better do something. Abraham, the bible says was grieved. Think about it. Here's his son of 13 years. His first son who he poured his life into, taught him how to be a man and how to be a father. Now he has to kick him out. I can't imagine the heartache he must have felt. God affirms Sarahs request in verse 12 but also comforts Abraham in verse 13 saying He, God, will take care of them. Then we come to the text in verse 14 that is our focus. Note, Abraham got up early and did what God called him to do. He didn't fuss or fight. He just did it. That is the perfect picture of how we are to respond to God's calls on our life. Unfortunately for Abraham he allowed his flesh to get in the way and the end result? The muslim nations we have today are a thorn in the side of Israel. You see, our actions have consequences. I know that is not a popular theme today seeing nobody wants to take responsibility, but it's true. In God's economy there is no grey area. Either do or don't. Now don't misunderstand me, God loves the muslim just as much as the next person but He is allowing them to be a reminder to Israel of the promise. So what's our application in all this? 1st Corinthians 15:31. Paul says he dies daily. The willingness to die to yourself so that Christ may accomplish His will in you. Romans chapter 8 talks about the flesh and what happens if you follow after it. Read it for extra credit. So this week, be encouraged that when God makes a promise, He keeps it. Don't let your flesh get in the way. Allow whatever it is to come to pass. God always keeps His end of the bargain.
Bob.

Matthew 13:26

"But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared."

O.k. I got a whole new layout and my own personal blog site. Man this Internet thing is bound to catch on. Here we have an excerpt from Matthew's Gospel where Jesus is speaking in parables then revealing the meaning to his followers after all others had left. If you notice, a lot of Jesus teachings were based around the agraian nature of the world at that time. Most people farmed or grew their own food and could relate to these teachings. Even today the relavance is so profound yet simple to understand. That's what I love about the bible. It says what it means and means what it says. If we look ahead to verse 38, we see Jesus explain what this part of the parable means. The grain or good seeds, are believers. The tares are non believers, sons of the wicked one. Man that's cold you might say. Hey Jesus said it, not me. Like with the rest of the bible, it is very black or white, for or against, etc. So what does this mean for me, you? While we are in the world the enemy is present. Those of us who are believers in Christ will be amongst non believers. The world, is passing away. If you read this parable, Jesus explains it fully. He says that the tares are to stay until harvest time and then be separated to be burned in fire. In fact He goes on to say some pretty harsh things concerning the tares. Some might say this shows God is not merciful or just. He is out to get some people and they have no hope. On the contrary. Jesus is showing His mercy and grace by allowing them to remain until the appointed time so that they might be saved and not see judgment. We see this type in the old testament. Noah and his family were in the world as a type of the church until the end. Lot, though backsliden, was in Sodom until God removed him to execute judgment. Both are examples of God allowing the tares to co exists until the time came for harvest. Make no mistake about it, you are either good seed, or a tare. 10 years ago I became good seed. I was a tare for long enough, and you know what? I am so thankful that I will not be harvested with the tares to be burned. What about you? This weeks devotional is not a real digging deep kind of post like some of my others. It's just simple truth from the bible to make you think about your life. Have a great week and think, are you wheat or a tare.
Blessings, Bob.

Romans 7:15

"For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not;but what I hate, that do I."

What on earth is Paul saying here? Is it a riddle with some cryptic message awaiting the diligent student to find? Maybe Paul is having a moment where he is losing his mind? It seems very hard to read and understand until you break it down, or quite possibly read another translation. The new American standard has it this way: " For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate." That seems a bit more understandable. What is Paul getting at? Basically he is dealing with what most of us deal with on a daily basis. If you don't, then disregard this message and go have a sandwich or something. Paul is saying that the things he does or is doing, he hates. He also is saying he wants to do something else but isn't. What a dilemma! Man I feel for ya Paul. In the context of a Christians life, this really hits home for some, definitely me. We desire to walk with Christ, draw closer to Christ, become more like Christ. Instead what do I, you do? We act like complete imbeciles at times. When the world looks on at us and sees us, they say " That's a Christian?" Man that one hurts. Now here is Paul, the one who wrote a lot of the new testament, saying the same thing. Why did I do that? Why do I act like this? Man I am so stupid. O.K. Maybe I'm the only one that says that. When we gave our lives to Christ, we are to reckon, as Paul says in Romans 6:11, ourselves dead. I've heard it said that we are to reckon the old man/woman dead. We are alive to Christ now. Somehow though, the old man has a tendency to resurrect at the worst times. Paul also said in 1 Corinthians 15:31 that he dies daily. Dies daily? To himself. So if Paul who was an amazing witness for Christ dealt with this, how on earth can we? I mean, he had the whole teaching of the law and the prophets under some of the best in all Israel. Then he had a personal intervention with Christ on the road to Damascus. One would think he could make it through this no problem. He was just a man like you and me. He had the same temptations and struggles just like you and me. He had the same Holy Spirit just like you and me have to help us. That is His job. In Greek the word for Holy spirit is parakletos on some usages. In John's gospel you will find this usage of it. It means comforter or helper. Through the power of the Holy spirit, we can overcome these obstacles in our walk with the Lord. Easy right? Well when we submit our selfish will to Christ and ask for help then yes it is. It's when we fight it that we have the problems. I know I for one feel as though I let the Lord down daily, but He is right there to pick me back up, dust me off and encourage me to keep going. Keep running the race. The prize is in sight and it's only a little while longer. The God I serve loves me. He loves who I am and the journey I am on. He understands the mistakes I am going to make because He saw them before the foundation of the world. Does that mean I can live like h@#$% and just keep saying sorry? Well, if I want to go nowhere fast sure. If I want to really experience the power of the Holy spirit and Christ's goodness in my life, then I have to get my priorities straight. I need to have the right heart attitude. God knows the heart and that should be enough for me to say, ok what needs to change here Lord. This week, don't beat yourself up if you fail to be a good witness. The enemy will do that for you. Just get alone with the one who loves you and died for you and tell Him this simple prayer. Help. I have done it many times and He has not let me down yet. Nor will He ever. Have a blessed week and walk with Him. The time is short.

Bob.