01/08/2014 Genesis 20-22 ~ Matthew 7

Genesis 20-22

Abraham moves into the region of the Negev.  While there he tells Abimelech, King of Gerar that Sarah is his sister.  So just as in Egypt, Abimelech takes Sarah as his wife.  God intervenes in a dream and as a result, Abimelech does not sleep with Sarah and Abraham is given more money, livestock and the right to live in the land.

Sometime later Sarah conceives and gives birth to Isaac.  Sometime later God tests Abraham and commands him to sacrifice Isaac.  Abraham obeys and as he is raising the knife, God stops him.

But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"..."Do not lay a hand on the boy...Do not do anything to him.  Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withhold from me your son,  your only son."

MATTHEW 7

Chapter 7 completes the sermon.

• Judging: Do not judge or you too will be judged.
• Prudence: Do not give to dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs.
• Prayer: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened.
• Others: So, in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
• Proof of the Kingdom: By their fruit you will recognize them...every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit...Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day...did wen not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?  Then I will tell them plainly.  I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!

JOURNAL

Faith. That is the true measure of those that are believers and will be welcomed into Heaven. It is not results, nor is it power or position.  It is also not doing deeds and serving God. Jesus goes right to the heart at the end of his sermon.  

Often I have seen God as my consultant or Genie in a bottle.  I have tried to emulate good deeds. Show myself to be a good person.  Try to have good results.  In the end it is all pointless, because it is all about what I get out of it. It has nothing to do with faith and truly selling out and obeying God.  I see in Abraham a man who would willingly sell out his wife out of fear.  Yet God protects him and blesses him and finally calls him on his true allegiance.  He stops him only as he raises the knife to kill his only son.  

Abraham was a manipulative rogue who used his half sister/wife to gain possessions.  Yet God redeems him and does so through the heart of his faith.  It is this same faith that Christ calls us in.  It is the final measuring stick of our lives.  It is how we know God and how he redeems us.  Not by results but by faith.

"God loves you! So do I! Make it a great day!"