“A great man is always willing to be little.”
GENESIS 20-22
MATTHEW 7
24“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
24“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
JOURNAL
I have to wonder if God tested Abraham here because of the way he had handled Sara and their relationship. He always passed her off as his sister for fear of his own life. He risked hurting others to save his own skin. Here now is the one thing in his life that he wants and loves more than anything and God asks him to destroy it. Abraham was in danger of making Isaac his God. God pushed Abraham and he proved faithful and obedient. Because of this his faith was never questioned and Isaac was spared.
I think this goes right along with Jesus' story of the man who built his house on the wrong foundation. When the tests came...it crashed. It again goes back to the same question...Who is your God and do you obey him?
There have been times over the course of my life when I have encountered situations and people that truly test me to my core. Those circumstances often involve feelings of hate and anger that overwhelm any thoughts of love and forgiveness. Most of the time these situations involve disagreements and ways of seeing the world or situations that don't have easy answers or immediate solutions.
What I have learned is that in these times it's best to just let things be. Otherwise it will drive me to places that are not Godly and are certainly not loving. I must resolve that I may see things differently and that is ok. I will not take the bait to hate or question the heart and mind of others. I will not try and convince them of my own opinion but will honor their right to their own opinion. Likewise I will continue to look for the good, as I should in all people. This gives me peace and gives me the resolve to not be consumed with a person or an issue. Because ultimately a person or circumstance is not my God...keeping that in proper perspective is the key.
58Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
I have to wonder if God tested Abraham here because of the way he had handled Sara and their relationship. He always passed her off as his sister for fear of his own life. He risked hurting others to save his own skin. Here now is the one thing in his life that he wants and loves more than anything and God asks him to destroy it. Abraham was in danger of making Isaac his God. God pushed Abraham and he proved faithful and obedient. Because of this his faith was never questioned and Isaac was spared.
I think this goes right along with Jesus' story of the man who built his house on the wrong foundation. When the tests came...it crashed. It again goes back to the same question...Who is your God and do you obey him?
There have been times over the course of my life when I have encountered situations and people that truly test me to my core. Those circumstances often involve feelings of hate and anger that overwhelm any thoughts of love and forgiveness. Most of the time these situations involve disagreements and ways of seeing the world or situations that don't have easy answers or immediate solutions.
What I have learned is that in these times it's best to just let things be. Otherwise it will drive me to places that are not Godly and are certainly not loving. I must resolve that I may see things differently and that is ok. I will not take the bait to hate or question the heart and mind of others. I will not try and convince them of my own opinion but will honor their right to their own opinion. Likewise I will continue to look for the good, as I should in all people. This gives me peace and gives me the resolve to not be consumed with a person or an issue. Because ultimately a person or circumstance is not my God...keeping that in proper perspective is the key.
58Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 CORINTHIANS 15:58
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