He said, “I am a foreigner and stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.” Genesis 23:4 NIV
We are called to confess our faith in facing the death of a loved one. Confessing we are but strangers and sojourners upon earth, believers whose hope is for a permanent home in the promised land of heaven. This is what Abraham confessed. His words are very significant. He confessed that he owned no land in Canaan, that he was only a stranger and a sojourner. A stranger is an alien, a foreigner who is passing through a country, not staying long enough to settle down or to rent a place. A sojourner is also a foreigner, but they are staying long enough to settle down and lease a house within a country. They are not a permanent resident; their home is elsewhere. When Abraham used these words, he was confessing his faith. Upon earth, he had lived only in tents, often moving about from here to there. He was only a stranger and a sojourner upon earth. But his hope and the longing of his heart was for a permanent home, a permanent home on this earth, yes; but more than that, he longed for a permanent home with the Lord. Briefly stated, Abraham’s home was not upon this earth, but with His Lord in heaven. How do we know this is what Abraham was confessing? Because Scripture tells us. (See Hebrews 11:8-10.) Down through history, Scripture and the people of our lord have always referred to themselves as strangers and sojourners upon earth. The Lord Himself called His people strangers and sojourners upon earth. We are passing through on our way to glory!
PRAYER THOUGHT
Lord, thank You that we are sojourners on our way to glory.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Lord, You Yourself called us, Your people, strangers and sojourners upon earth. Thank You, that we are passing through on our way to glory. Amen
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE READING ASSOCIATION (IBRA)
Luke 15:11-32
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