“Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you now reside as a foreigner the same kindness I have shown to you.” Genesis 21:23 NIV
Building good relationships is making a strong commitment that one will not deal falsely with other people. Abimelech had been fair, honest, and just with Abraham. Four years earlier, he had returned Sarah to Abraham and given him a large herd of oxen and sheep, and he had given Abraham the right to live any place he wished within Philistine territory. Abimelech had done everything he could to build a good relationship with Abraham. Now, he asked Abraham to seal their relationship with a permanent peace treaty. He wanted Abraham, himself, their sons, and grandchildren to always live in peace. He wanted the land to be protected from the ravages of injustices and war. Abraham swore to never deal falsely with Abimelech nor with his descendants. He swore to always be fair, honest, and just with Abimelech and his people. Building good relationships is making a strong commitment to never deal falsely with people. We destroy relationships if we deal falsely with people, if we are unfair, dishonest and unjust. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4:25, “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbour, for we are all members of one body.” Let us make a strong commitment to be fair, honest, and just with people in all our dealings. This is true of nations and of us as individuals.
PRAYER THOUGHT
Lord, may we seek to never deal falsely with all people.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Lord, through the power and ministry of Your Holy Spirit, enable us to make a strong commitment to be fair, honest, and just with people in all our dealings. AMEN
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)
1 Corinthians 7:17-24
LISTEN TO TODAY’S DEVOTION
If you received our daily emails, please listen to today’s devotion on our website www.ffdl.co.za
On Facebook follow this link to start listening.