07/02/2020
God is our shield, and gives us every good reward when we trust in Him, and do as He instructs us, but are we faithful to God’s commandments in the process? Do we serve His will to receive what we are asking of Him, the reward of our having been faithful, or simply out of love and obedience? What is it that we ask God to help us with, or shield us from, but more than all else... what do we ask of Him once we have been faithful, and He wishes to bless us?
“After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.””
Genesis 15:1 ESV
When we come to the Lord like Abram, who sought to rescue his kinsman Lot after the defeat of Sodom, we know exactly what we are asking of Him, but as He is helping us, or giving us victory, do we remain obedient to His Word, and do we adhere to His commandments? Serving God is often difficult, but when times are very hard, and we need His deliverance or provision, it becomes easier to bow down, and to adhere to His commandments. Suffering brings us to desperation, and seeking God in such times becomes much easier. In hard times when we are desperate, or on the verge of destruction we will promise anything for deliverance. Yet, once we have received God’s deliverance we face the most difficult challenge of all... being humble in receiving His blessing for our having trusted in Him, and done His will. Abram was offered the wealth of Sodom, but he had promised God he wouldn’t take it, and he was true to his word.
“But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.””
Genesis 14:22-24 ESV
Abram could have been extremely wealthy, and yet he was true to the promise he made to God, and took nothing. In doing God’s will as he rescued Lot, and then being faithful in this promise, God wished to bless Abram, but what would that blessing be? What would Abram ask for? He didn’t ask for land, livestock, money, or gold... he simply asked for a son.
“But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.”
Genesis 15:2-6 ESV
God gives according to His goodness, and when we ask in humility, He gives us far more than we can ever dream to ask of Him. Abram asked for a single son, and God gave him offspring greater than the stars in the sky. This sounds amazing, but God didn’t stop here, He also gave Abram land...
“And he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.””
Genesis 15:7 ESV
Now this is truly amazing, and Abram was ready to make covenant with God to seal this deal, but God wasn’t through yet. He promised great wealth for Abrams offspring.
“Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.”
Genesis 15:13-14 ESV
Once we have asked for God’s help, and we have remained faithful as He worked to answer our prayers; once he has provided what we have asked for, then what will we request if He desires to bless us further?Will we be humble in our wishes As Abram was? If we trust that God will provide for us day to day, then what more do we really need than His continued presence?
“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”
2 Peter 1:3-4 ESV
There are many stories told in which someone is granted three wishes, and they struggle to make them. They struggle because they are selfish and want the absolute most for themselves from those wishes, but in the most glorious of these stories they make a final wish that is not self-gratifying, and that brings them nothing... no wealth, no power, no better life. Sometimes they wish that some sick stranger will be healed, or a starving mother would receive food. This is a humble wish, a wish that is Christlike, a wish that might cause us to suffer, or even to die. Abram’s wish concerning God’s blessing wasn’t for himself, it was for the continuation of his lineage of faith... a child that would not only receive his earthly possessions, but his spiritual relationship with God. He didn’t desire land, money, or life... and yet that is what God saw fit to give him. God rewards the humble, and unselfish, because that is who He is. So what will you desire of God If He wants to bless you?
“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
3 John 1:2-4 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your many blessings, and all that you give us beyond our day to day needs. Thank you for your goodness, and mercy, but most of all your grace that is a blessing beyond the bounds of our dreams, because it gives everything to us who deserve nothing. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who rains blessings down on us, and calls us your own. Great are you who has made us your heirs in Christ, and opens our eyes each day to renewed faith. We praise your name Father for providing us with what we need, and for blessing us with those things that only you can imagine. Hear our prayers Father as we ask for your provision and deliverance, then watch as we obey you, and humble ourselves before your throne in obedience, thanksgiving, and love. Lift us up Lord, as we worship you, and serve the poor of spirit so that they can share in your blessings of the spirit, and receive with us the inheritance of life everlasting.
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.”
2 Corinthians 9:8-12 ESV
Rich Forbes