January 7

Written By Marj Lancaster

Gen 16:1-18:15 | PS 7:1-17 | Prov 2:1-5 | Matt 6:1-24

God is sovereign. Picture God having an ocean liner and setting its course to its final destination. Nothing, absolutely nothing, will veer that ship from its course. For our part, when, in faith, we repent of our sins, accept His Son's offer of salvation by what He did for us on the cross, and accept Him as Lord of our lives, or in this example, the captain of this ship, that decision does not change the course of the vessel. While on this ship, we have choices. We can choose to be miserable, spending each day in the hull, seasick, with no joy. Or we can take in every vista, engage with others, and experience God's fullness as we are on our journey. God does not need our help to steer His ship. But many of us get it wrong, thinking they need to help God out a bit with His decisions or His timing. Abraham was the father of faith, but even the father of faith, at times, can do things not in faith. We read in Genesis 16:1-3, "Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal. So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. (This happened ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan.)" In fairness to Abraham and Sarah, it had been over ten years since that promise of a descendant. Even a bit later in 17:16-19, we see Abraham stumble a bit and trying to help God out with His seemingly impossible situation of Sarah's mothering a child at the age of 90.

That is why reading the entirety of God's Word is so important, as it helps us understand God's character. Though everyone knows by heart "The Lord's Prayer" written for us in Matthew 6:9-13, most choose to forget the next two verses in 6:14-15, "If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins." Recently I had a long conversation with a woman who is engaged but during her dating phase there were questions of this man's faithfulness. Though nothing was ever proven, as time went on, she realized she still cared for him but stated she would never forgive him for what she perceives he did. I pointed out these two verses to her. These are not simply just rules to be followed, but unforgiveness, no matter what the infraction gives the hurt individual a root of bitterness which is devastating to one's personal walk and one's walk with God. Also, take to heart, Jesus' words in Matthew 6:7-8, "“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!" When we pray, especially when we pray aloud to others it is not necessary to go on and on, quoting this Scripture and that. The prayer is to convey a message to our heavenly Father, not to draw attention to ourselves or for that matter not simply for the ears of the one seeking prayer. God hears us whether we utter three words of desperation or ten paragraphs.

We read Matthew 6:19-21, "Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be." Some have stated they are not excited about the Rapture, then give a number of reasons, often relating to children and grandchildren. In fact, if God took you up to heaven, what would you be craning your neck back to earth looking at. We need to live for God, trust God, have our hope in God. Anything, even good things, take us away from this primary relationship. They could be earthly relationships, vocations, etc. Jesus clearly states it in 6:24, "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money."

Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley:

Marj Lancaster
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