Category Archives: Devotion

SIN CANNOT DERAIL GOD’S PLAN

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“And Abimelech asked Abraham, “What was your reason for doing this?””       Genesis 20:10 NIV

 

When Abraham left the promised land to enter Gerar, he placed the plan of the Lord in jeopardy. The Lord had promised to send the promised seed within a year, Genesis 18:10-14. Abraham showed very poor judgment! If Abimelech had been allowed to sleep with Sarah, it could have short-circuited the Lord’s plan. But the Scriptures tell us that the Lord prevented anything like that from taking place! Another problem is the fact that Abraham is the sole representative of the Lord Almighty, verse 7. He has been commissioned to be a blessing to all the families of the earth. Instead of being a blessing and a witness for the Lord, Abraham’s life could have been a hindrance to prevent Abimelech from coming to the Lord. Despite Abraham’s sin, the Lord spoke to Abimelech and dealt with him anyway, verses 6-7. Regardless of what we do, the Lord’s plan will be accomplished! You and I cannot hinder the Lord from doing His work! We might miss out on the blessing of being a part of what He is doing, but God will accomplish His will in the church and in the world whether we cooperate or not! There is no indication that Abraham ever acknowledged his sin or repented of it! But think about this: Abraham’s sin was used as testimony to the greatness of the Lord Almighty. Abimelech would have never known that the Lord was the Lord of mercy, grace, forgiveness and restoration if that old saint had never fallen into sin! But, because he did, the Lord was able to demonstrate His power through forgiving and restoring Abraham by grace. Let us never forget that sin has consequences!

 

PRAYER THOUGHT

Lord, because of Your grace our sin cannot derail Your plans.

 

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, we rejoice that because of Your amazing grace our sin cannot derail Your plans, but let us live with the consciousness that our sin does have consequences. AMEN

 

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)

Deuteronomy 17:14-20

 

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SIN CANNOT OVERCOME GRACE

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“Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his female slaves so they could have children again.”       Genesis 20:17 NIV

 

Even though Abraham is clearly out of the Lord’s will at this time in his life, he is still enjoying the Lord’s blessings! That may mess up our theology, but it is still true! You see, even when Abraham is in a place of his own choosing and is not doing what God asked him to do, he is still being blessed by the Lord. Look at the blessings that came his way. The Lord forgave him of his sins as implied in verse 17. The Lord protected him from harm in verses 2-9, 18. The Lord blessed him Financially in verses 14-16. The Lord used Abraham for His Glory (verse 17). What does this teach us? Simply the truth that who we are in Christ Jesus cannot be invalidated by our sin! We all know that the Lord disciplines His children as we are reminded in Hebrews 12:6-12. However, how many of us could testify to the truth that there have been times when we were miles away from the Lord and He still blessed our lives! What is this? Nothing less than grace! This just serves to remind us that our Lord deals with us based on who we are rather than based on what we do! BUT this does not give us a license to sin! After all, those who have been saved by the grace of the Lord are going to want to serve the Lord and will not rest until things are right between them and the Lord. It is also true that after a while God will deal directly and completely with the sin that resides within our hearts. Praise to our Lord, even our sin is unable to separate us from the love we have in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:38-39)!

 

PRAYER THOUGHT

Lord, saved by Your grace means we desire to always be right with You.

 

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, having been saved by Your grace, gives us a greater desire to be right with You, and not a license to do whatever we want. Thank You for Your ongoing work in our lives to rid us of whatever sin seeks to control us. AMEN

 

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)

Isaiah 39:1-8

 

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SIN DOESN’T HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE

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For a while he stayed in Gerar, and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.”          Genesis 20:2 NIV

 

Remember that Abraham is 100 years old when this event occurs. When he did this same thing in Genesis 12, he was just beginning his walk with the Lord. Here, he should be at the height of his maturity as a believer. This is a sin Abraham has carried with him for many decades. (See Genesis 20:13) For us the point is clear. There will never be a time when we will be beyond falling! Therefore, we need to avoid some of the mistakes that Abraham made. May we never stop trusting the Lord to take care of us. Why was Abraham in Gerar? In Genesis 12, he went because of a famine, not believing that the Lord would take care of him. This time, we are not told why he went. He probably thought that all the area would be burned up. When we come to the place where we no longer trust the Lord to meet our needs and to get us through the trials of life, we are headed for disaster! Abraham had a fear that some man would kill him so that he could have Sarah. When he felt this fear, he was inclined to lie to save his hide, not believing that the Lord would be able to take care of him. If we know that we have a problem in some area of our lives, we are foolish to place ourselves in a position to be tempted! When temptation comes, we need to be like Joseph: Run! (see Genesis 39). May we never come to think that we have arrived at a place where we cannot sin, or where we are free from the temptation to commit a particular sin. As sure as we let down our guard, we are headed for trouble.

 

PRAYER THOUGHT

Lord, teach us not to drop our guard and to flee temptation.

 

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Holy Spirit, show us that we can never come to think that we have arrived at a place where we cannot sin, or where we are free from the temptation to commit a particular sin. Strengthen us to never let our guard down. AMEN

 

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)

Isaiah 38:1-21

 

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SIN AND THE SAINT

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Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.”      Genesis 20:1,2 NIV

 

Genesis chapter 20 portrays a horrible failure in the life of one of the Lord’s choice servants, known as “the friend of God.” If you remember Abraham’s journey down into Egypt in Genesis 12:10-20, you will notice some similarities between this chapter and chapter 12. It is never pleasant to see failure in the life of one of the Lord’s children. What a blessing it is to see that the Lord, through the Scriptures does not sweep Abraham’s sin under the carpet. I am grateful that the Lord saw fit to record the event in the pages of Scripture. I am grateful because, like Abraham, I struggle with sin as I am sure you do too. What we need in the midst of our struggle is some encouragement! What we need is the blessed assurance that we have hope in the midst of our failures! This chapter offers that hope to our hearts! It may seem like this is a chapter of darkness, gloom and failure, but it is a chapter filled with hope and help for you and me. Abraham is 100 years old when the event in this chapter occurs. When he did this same thing in Genesis 12, he was just beginning his walk with the Lord. Here, he should be at the height of his maturity as a believer. Abraham was still prone to failure, as are we. But there is grace!

 

PRAYER THOUGHT

Lord, may we always be aware that we are not beyond sin in our lives.

 

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord thank You for reminding us through Abraham, that we are never beyond sin in our lives, but there is always Your grace. AMEN

 

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)

Isaiah 37:9-20

 

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LOT’S DAUGHTERS

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Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains …. One day the older daughter said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is no man around here to give us children—as is the custom all over the earth.”         Genesis 19:30,31 NIV

 

Finally, we come to Lot’s daughters. What a story. It’s about the origin of the Moabites and the Ammonites, which would be very important for the history of Israel. But it’s about more than just a historical lesson. Often when we think of chapter 19, we remember Sodom and Gomorrah, and we want to stop there, and forget the last section. But here’s the lesson from verses 30 through 38: You can take God’s people out of Sodom, but there still may be the spirit of Sodom in God’s people. Which brings us to the expression “as is the custom all over the earth.” The eldest daughter was thinking about their future. They chose to walk not by faith, but only by sight. For as far as they know, all the men are gone. How are they going to have children? How are they going to have purpose? How are they going to extend their father’s line? They get him so drunk two nights in a row and lay with him and produce offspring, unbelievably so, by their father. Do you recall when Lot was in a difficult situation. He wanted to preserve his guests, and so he’s willing to give up his daughters. Now his daughters are in a difficult situation, they want to preserve their lineage, and so they’re willing to give up their sexual purity. The seeds of walking by sight, not by faith, always bring an unwanted harvest!

 

PRAYER THOUGHT

Lord, You have called us to walk by faith and not by sight.

 

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord. When we take matters into our own hands, in walking by sight and not faith, the seeds sown in such acts bring an unwanted harvest. AMEN

 

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)

Isaiah 36:13-20

 

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WHY DID SHE LOOK BACK?

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“But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.”        Genesis 19:26 NIV

 

For thousands of years many have wondered why this woman looked back. She looked back because she did not believe that the Lord would do what He said He would do! She thought He was bluffing! Many still make the same gamble today! Ask the Rich Man of Luke 16:19-31. Ask Judas Iscariot! The Lord isn’t bluffing! Sin is a hard taskmaster. She, along with all the others, had been commanded not to look back. But there was something within her that caused her to turn back toward Sodom. The problem with Lot’s wife was that she had her eyes on all the wrong things. She was looking back at a lost life, a lost lifestyle and a lost city. Wherever our gaze is fixed it will determine the path taken by our feet. The prodigal son’s gaze was on the world and his feet followed. Having our gaze fixed on the wrong things is a dangerous way to live! The Lord’s plan, as it is laid out in His Word, is a perfect plan! Those who follow His plan enjoy His blessings and His peace even in the deepest and darkest trials. Where is your gaze today? Lot’s wife had a problem with her focus. Her body was out of Sodom, but her heart was still there. I am reminded of a song by David Baroni: “Lord, You took me out of Egypt. Now take Egypt out of me. You delivered me from Pharaoh. Now set me free from me. And let my heart become a promised land. Where the desert used to be. Lord, You took me out of Egypt. Now take Egypt out of me”. Do you keep looking back?

 

PRAYER THOUGHT

Lord, You took me out of Egypt, now take Egypt out of me.

 

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, stop me from looking back, for I know You took me out of Egypt, now please take Egypt out of me. AMEN

 

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)

Isaiah 33:14-17

 

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REMEMBER HER PRIVILEGES

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“But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.”         Genesis 19:26 NIV

 

Lot’s wife was privileged to be married into the only family on the earth that was serving the one true God. She had seen the clear faith of Abraham. She had witnessed his dedication to the Lord. She had seen his altars and his worship. She had seen him operate in the power of the Lord and deliver her husband from sure death in Genesis 14. She was privileged to be associated with one of the greatest godly men who ever walked this planet! She saw the cloudy faith of her husband. He traded his tent for a townhouse! Because of her relationship with Lot and Abraham, she learned a few things about the Lord. She certainly knew who the Lord was and how one approaches Him. She had learned this from her husband and his uncle. Yet, she never followed through with it. The Lord had even graced her by sending angels to warn her and her family of the impending doom. Still, she refused to flee from the wrath of the Lord. She was privileged in her responsibility. She knew the facts and was given every opportunity to act upon them. She was given the chance to change, the chance to believe, the chance to be saved. Yet, she squandered those chances. The privilege of conviction is this: When the Lord calls, it isn’t to harm us, but it is to remind us that He loves us and wants to save us by His grace and give us life and life in all its fullness through His Son, Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord!

 

PRAYER THOUGHT

Lord, thank You for the privilege of conviction to experience Your grace.

 

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, thank You for the privilege of Your conviction in our lives, so that we will experience and know the reality of Your saving grace in Your Son Jesus Christ through the power and ministry of Your Holy Spirit. AMEN

 

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)

Isaiah 33:2-13

 

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REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE

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“But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.”             Genesis 19:26 NIV

 

Luke 17 verse 32 we have the words of Jesus, “Remember Lot’s wife!” Jesus in Luke 17 had been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God will come. His answer is to warn them to be ready for the coming of the kingdom is like the flash of lightening that instantly lights the sky. It is compared to the coming of the flood in Noah’s day, and to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Lot’s Day. Those who hear are warned to be ready to go when the Lord comes, and they are warned against turning back for anything. In the midst of His teaching, Jesus tells those listening to Him that they should “remember Lot’s wife.” Nowhere in the Bible are we told to remember Abraham, Isaac or Jacob. We are not commanded to remember Ruth or Rahab, David or Joshua, but we are commanded to remember Lot’s wife! We are told to awaken our sluggish memories and look back to the death of someone who passed through this world, lived in sin and died in sin. We are told to remember Lot’s wife. What is there to remember? She was married to Lot and she lived in Sodom. Before God’s judgment came on Sodom and Gomorrah, she, along with her husband and two unmarried daughters were forced from the city. They were all commanded not to look behind them as they fled, but she disobeyed and was instantly transformed into a pillar of salt. Remembering Lot’s wife, does not mean we revive an ages old, painful story, but be reminded that this life we are living is fleeting.

 

PRAYER THOUGHT

Lord, we choose to live for Your glory each day, for life is fleeting.

 

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, as we remember Lot’s wife, we are reminded that our lives are fleeting, and as such, through Your Holy Spirit, may we live our lives to your honour and glory, not looking back but forward. AMEN

 

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)

Isaiah 32:9-20

 

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ABRAHAM PRAYED

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“So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, He remembered Abraham, and He brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.”      Genesis 19:29 NIV

 

Abraham arose early to see what had happened. What he saw, no doubt, struck him with the deepest sorrow and emotional strain. The whole plain was filled with a dense smoke soaring up into the sky, a smoke so dense that it seemed to be furiously flowing up from a huge burning furnace, a furnace so large that it seemed to cover the whole area. The Lord’s remembrance of Abraham’s prayer is recounted. Lot was not saved for his own sake. He had not followed the Lord nor been a witness for the Lord. He had lived for this world, lived for the bright lights, pleasures, money, wealth, property, position, honour, and possessions of this world. He had lived a worldly life. There was no reason for the Lord to save and keep him upon this earth. He just was not a witness for the Lord. In fact, he damaged and disgraced the Lord’s name. He had a tarnished testimony, living a hypocritical life. Lot was saved for one reason and for one reason only. Abraham, his uncle, had prayed for him; and the Lord heard and answered his prayer. “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16) May we never stop praying for one another, keeping our own lives pure before the Lord.

 

PRAYER THOUGHT

Holy Spirit, strengthen us as we pray with compassion for one another.

 

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Holy Spirit, strengthen us as we pray with deep concern and compassion for those in need of Your grace and mercy today and every day. AMEN

 

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)

Isaiah 32:1-8

 

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LINGERING

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“When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them.”          Genesis 19:16 NIV

 

The two angels warned Lot. He needed to hurry, take his wife and two daughters and get out. Flee the city otherwise they will all be consumed. But Lot lingered. The very thought of leaving home, business, and possessions, his attachment to the world and the things of the world, made it very difficult for him to leave. But the Lord had mercy upon him, the two angels grabbed the hands of Lot, his wife, and daughters leading them out of the city. A picture of incredible spiritual weakness is revealed. Despite his having just been saved from a catastrophic death by the glorious mercy of God. Despite his facing impending judgment. When the angels led Lot and his family outside the city, the angels warned Lot again and urged him to escape for his life, to flee to the mountains out of the plain otherwise he and his family would be consumed. But Lot pleaded against the Lord’s will (verse 18): Lot claimed to be physically incapable of reaching the mountain, that he might not be able to climb it in time to escape the destruction. But this was a camouflage, self-deception for a worldly heart. God was saving him from the coming judgment, and God would have strengthened him for the journey to the mountain. Lot knew this, but he pleaded for the right to escape to a city nearby, to Zoar (verse 20). The Lord accepted Lot’s choice. The Lord pleaded no more, He gave Lot up to his choices!

 

PRAYER THOUGHT

Lord, stop us from lingering at the places that lead us away from You.

 

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, give us the ears to hear Your warnings about our choices, and stop us from lingering at those places that lead us away from You. AMEN

 

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)

Isaiah 30:15-26

 

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