Joyce's Devotion's for 9-7-05:
Genesis 19:1-38 Sodom & Gomorrah destroyed
Lot had lived so long and so contented among ungodly people that he was no longer a believable witness for God. He had allowed his environment to shape him, rather than he shaping his environment. Do those who know you see you as a witness for God...or are you just one of the crowd... blending in and unnoticed? Lot had compromised to the point that he was almost useless to God When he finally made a stand... no one listened! To make a difference you must first decide to be different in your faith and your conduct. There are reasons the world think the church is full of hypocrites when many are like Lot. Lot did not want to abandon his wealth, position and comfort so the angel had to grasp his hand and rush him to safety. Do we hesitate to obey? It usually stems from the false attractions of our culture's pleasures.
We need to continue to pray for the salvation of our loved ones. God's mercy toward Abraham extended to Lot and his family. Abraham pleaded for Lot and God was merciful and saved Lot.
We see two facets of God character in this story:
1. God has great patience! He had agreed to spare a wicked city for ten good people.
2. God has fierce anger! He destroyed both cities!
As we grow spiritually, we should find ourselves developing a deeper respect for God because of His anger towards sin and also a deeper love for God because of His patience when we do sin!
Lot's wife turned back to look. Clinging to the past...she was unwilling to turn completely away. Are you looking back longingly at sin while trying to move forward with God? You can't make progress with God as long as you are holding on to pieces of your old life. Jesus said it this way....no one can serve two masters.
In this pitiful sequel to this story is Lot's daughters feeling compelled to preserve the family line. Lot's tendency to compromise and his laziness and refusal to act reached it peak. He should have found right partners for his daughters long before this! Abraham's family wasn't far away! Now the two daughters stooped to incest...showing their acceptance of the morals of Sodom. We are most likely to sin when we are desperate for what we feel we must have. Lot could have spared this....but Lot thought small and didn't want to reach out of his comfort zone. Lot was a small little man with small little dreams, a small outlook, small aspirations, small faith, and small vision. The angel gave in to Lot and let Lot go where his heart was, a small little place instead of the mountain top where they had told him to flee. Then Lot's wife did exactly as she was told not to do, she looked back at the garbage heap of Sodom! She turned into a block of salt.
Salt: In its granulated form it flavors and enhances whatever it touches.
Solidified it becomes unyielding, unmovable, and useless.
Small minds and spirits take the very flavor God commanded that we sprinkle into the world ... and turn it into some legalistic, unbending monument to the death of the spirit. Small minds, small dreams, small men and women, small visions. Solidified salt in the shadow of the mountain where bushes burn and voices thunder and the finger of God carves in granite the direction to freedom!
Father God.....I pray we never get into the small mind-frame again. Help us to be open to hear and see you, Father! Take us to the mountain top! I don't want to be content in the world's environment....but I know I can't step away from the world and seclude myself either. Show us the boundaries. Help us to take a stand for You. Hear our prayers for our loved ones salvation, dear Lord! And God, help us to continue to look ahead. You have a mountain top to take us to. Help us to stay focused on that and not the rubble that lies behind us.
In Jesus Name I pray, AMEN!
Genesis 19:1-38 Sodom & Gomorrah destroyed
Lot had lived so long and so contented among ungodly people that he was no longer a believable witness for God. He had allowed his environment to shape him, rather than he shaping his environment. Do those who know you see you as a witness for God...or are you just one of the crowd... blending in and unnoticed? Lot had compromised to the point that he was almost useless to God When he finally made a stand... no one listened! To make a difference you must first decide to be different in your faith and your conduct. There are reasons the world think the church is full of hypocrites when many are like Lot. Lot did not want to abandon his wealth, position and comfort so the angel had to grasp his hand and rush him to safety. Do we hesitate to obey? It usually stems from the false attractions of our culture's pleasures.
We need to continue to pray for the salvation of our loved ones. God's mercy toward Abraham extended to Lot and his family. Abraham pleaded for Lot and God was merciful and saved Lot.
We see two facets of God character in this story:
1. God has great patience! He had agreed to spare a wicked city for ten good people.
2. God has fierce anger! He destroyed both cities!
As we grow spiritually, we should find ourselves developing a deeper respect for God because of His anger towards sin and also a deeper love for God because of His patience when we do sin!
Lot's wife turned back to look. Clinging to the past...she was unwilling to turn completely away. Are you looking back longingly at sin while trying to move forward with God? You can't make progress with God as long as you are holding on to pieces of your old life. Jesus said it this way....no one can serve two masters.
In this pitiful sequel to this story is Lot's daughters feeling compelled to preserve the family line. Lot's tendency to compromise and his laziness and refusal to act reached it peak. He should have found right partners for his daughters long before this! Abraham's family wasn't far away! Now the two daughters stooped to incest...showing their acceptance of the morals of Sodom. We are most likely to sin when we are desperate for what we feel we must have. Lot could have spared this....but Lot thought small and didn't want to reach out of his comfort zone. Lot was a small little man with small little dreams, a small outlook, small aspirations, small faith, and small vision. The angel gave in to Lot and let Lot go where his heart was, a small little place instead of the mountain top where they had told him to flee. Then Lot's wife did exactly as she was told not to do, she looked back at the garbage heap of Sodom! She turned into a block of salt.
Salt: In its granulated form it flavors and enhances whatever it touches.
Solidified it becomes unyielding, unmovable, and useless.
Small minds and spirits take the very flavor God commanded that we sprinkle into the world ... and turn it into some legalistic, unbending monument to the death of the spirit. Small minds, small dreams, small men and women, small visions. Solidified salt in the shadow of the mountain where bushes burn and voices thunder and the finger of God carves in granite the direction to freedom!
Father God.....I pray we never get into the small mind-frame again. Help us to be open to hear and see you, Father! Take us to the mountain top! I don't want to be content in the world's environment....but I know I can't step away from the world and seclude myself either. Show us the boundaries. Help us to take a stand for You. Hear our prayers for our loved ones salvation, dear Lord! And God, help us to continue to look ahead. You have a mountain top to take us to. Help us to stay focused on that and not the rubble that lies behind us.
In Jesus Name I pray, AMEN!
