# 108 Strive For Unity

The Book of Genesis Day 108 Ge 13:8 So Abram said to Lot, "Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. 9 "Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left." 10 And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other. Abram’s request of Lot is good advice for us in the church today. , “Please, let there be no strife between us, for we are brethren.” Then Abram follows up with this generous offer made to Lot! It’s a good example of not quarreling over non-essentials. There was plenty of land in view from the vantage point of Bethel (God’s house) and Abram, being the senior, had every right to choose the land he wanted, but for the sake of peace, he yielded to Lot. I wonder, are you ready to do the same thing at your next church board or council meeting? I wonder if spouses are ready to do the same thing the next time strife rises up in their marriage. Ro 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” How much more then with your husband or wife? How much more then with your brothers and sisters in the Lord? Paul also wrote about this in his letter to the Phillipians: Php 2:2-9, “fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,” And he continues in Php 2:14,15, “ Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, My brothers and sisters, be willing to relinquish to one another in non-essentials for the sake of peace and unity. Remember, the Canaanites are watching. Pray: Lord, help us to be ready to relinquish all the non-essential territories in our lives, knowing that You desire peace and harmony amongst Your children.

# 107 The Great Connector

he Book of Genesis Day 107 Ge 12:16 He treated Abram well for her sake. He had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male and female servants, female donkeys, and camels. 17 But the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife. 18 And Pharaoh called Abram and said, "What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? 19 "Why did you say, 'She is my sister'? I might have taken her as my wife. Now therefore, here is your wife; take her and go your way." 20 So Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they sent him away, with his wife and all that he had. Pretty good deal for Abram! Pharaoh takes Sarai for his harem, thinking she is Abram’s sister, and instead of getting killed because he was her husband, Pharaoh showers him with gifts!Not a good deal for Pharaoh though. The moment he takes Sarai into his harem, the plagues begin. Somehow Pharaoh makes the connection between the plagues and the true relationship between Abram and Sarai. Now, by the custom of the Egyptians, he has every right to kill Abram and take Sarai. But the plagues have likely changed his mind. He is dealing with someone special here and he knows it, so he returns Sarai and tells Abram to go on his way. There are other “connections” here between these plagues and the ones that were going to be brought against a future Pharaoh through Moses. Both plagues were designed to force Pharaoh to release something that was not his. IN this case Sarai, Abram’s “chosen” wife. In the case of Moses, it was the Hebrews, God’s “chosen” people! By the times the plagues ended, both Pharaoh’s were most anxious to have the “chosen” ones released, and they sent them away loaded with treasures. God, the great Connector is at it again! He has done a masterful job of connecting Abram’s famine inspired journey to Egypt with Jacob’s similar journey in the future, and here He connects Abram to Moses through the plagues in the house of Pharaoh. Later, God will connect Abraham to the sacrifice of God’s only Son, as Abraham prepared to offer up his only son Isaac, and let us not forget how the Apostle Paull in his letter to the Romans would make the connection between Abraham’s saving faith and our own saving faith. (He believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness. ) This same righteousness is imputed to you and I and all who put their faith in Jesus! God connects things in His Word so that we too might make the connection between those things foreshadowed in the Old Testament, and which came to pass in the New Testament. Bottom line is it is His desire that we all become reconnected to Him through faith in Jesus! Pray: Father God, thank You for being in the business of making connections. May there be rejoicing in heaven today over every single sinner who repents and is reconnected to You through faith in Jesus!

# 105 Mistakes Are Made

The Book of Genesis Day 105 Ge 12:11 And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, "Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance. 12 "Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, 'This is his wife'; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 "Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you." 14 So it was, when Abram came into Egypt, that the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful. 15 The princes of Pharaoh also saw her and commended her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken to Pharaoh's house. There’s that phrase again, “it came to pass,” the situation involving Abram’s fear has come before God, and He allows the scenario to continue, He ”allows it to pass.” What will Abram do? Will he give in to fear? As great as Abram’s faith was, don’t you find it hard to believe that he could actually give his wife up to the Egyptians? Well if you’ve ever been gripped by fear, maybe you can identify with Abram! Fear will often cause us to do stupid things! But this “fear” of Abram’s did not begin here We get more details about this “fear” of Abrams from an incident that would take place 20 years later! That’s right, 20 years later Abram would attempt to pull off the exact same stunt with the king of Gerar. The king, (Abimelech) asked Abram why he tried to do such a thing, Abram said, “But indeed, she truly is my sister. She is the daughter of my father , but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. (The laws against this kind of a relationship were not yet codified by God through Moses as found in Lev 18) And it came to pass when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, this is your kindness that you should do for me; in every place, wherever we go, say of me, He is my brother.” Wow! This was Abram’s plan from the beginning and Sarai knew about it, and she hung with her man in spite of it! No wonder the Holy Spirit speaking through Peter in 1Pe 3:5,6 gives her special honor! “ For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.” In this instance, Sarah had more trust in God than Abram did! With this plan in Abram’s mind before the journey even began, one can see how quick he was to call on it, when he found himself in these sticky situations. Maybe he didn’t think he’d have to use that plan when he took off in faith for Canaan, but “it came to pass,” that he would have to decide. His “hedged” bet was called by the famine that forced him to travel to Egypt. When “it came to pass,” he blinked, he made a mistake, but it was one that God covered for him as we shall see. God was more interested in Abram’s willingness to follow Him, knowing that Abram would make mistakes along the way, but God would use these mistakes to grow Abram’s faith. You and I often hedge our bets as we step out in faith. You and I will make mistakes as we choose to follow Jesus. Of course we try not to, but mistakes will come. But God is more interested in your willingness to continue following Him. He is more interested in growing your faith, and there is a wonderful verse in Scripture that helps us to move on after our mistakes. It is found in 1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Don’t let your mistakes turn you away from following Jesus, confess those mistakes. Receive His promised forgiveness, and move on. “Go, and sin no more!” Pray: Lord, help my faith to grow as I learn to trust You in all things, and cover my mistakes through the precious blood of Your Son, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

# 104 Distractions, Fear, and Doubt Will Come

The Book of Genesis Day 104 Ge 12:11 And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, "Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance. 12 "Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, 'This is his wife'; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 "Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you." The famine has driven Abram and his entourage to Egypt. Before we are too harsh in our judgment of Abram here, let’s recall an episode with Peter. Jesus invited him to walk on water with the simple command, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and was walking on water until the wind became boisterous. That’s when fear and doubt gripped him and he began to sink. But Jesus was right there to bail him out. This is what is happening to Abram right now. He has become distracted by outside circumstances; he becomes afraid and does a terrible thing to his wife Sarai. It was the practice of Egyptian princes to kill the husbands of beautiful women, and then confiscate the women for themselves. Abram knew this and was afraid for his own life, so he asked Sarai to tell the Egyptians that she was his sister. That way, they would still confiscate her, but would do no harm to him. (Not exactly loving your wife as Christ loved the church. Not exactly trusting God’s promise of giving the land of Canaan to Abram’s descendants. Abram was gripped with fear for his very life and with that fear came the great enemy of faith…..doubt. One can almost hear Satan whispering in Abram’s ear, “Did God really say HE would give the land of Canaan to your descendants?” If so, what are you doing in this strange land? Dead men have no descendants.” So Abram decides to take matters into his own hands, and to protect his life, his gives Sarai away to the Egyptians. Now, let’s not be too hard on Abram, after all, to be truthful, most of us would still be in Haran, afraid to take that first step of faith into Canaan! The lesson here is simple. Be on guard! As you exercise faith by trusting in God’s Word and His promises, fearful distractions will arise. They will be boisterous, like the waves with Peter, demanding your attention. About the only voice you will hear at times like this will be the devil, and his proverbial, “Did God really say?” Recognize this, and before you panic and act foolishly like Abram, turn to the Word, just as Jesu s did in the wilderness when He was tempted. Remember His response? “It is written! Pray: Lord, fear is a great enemy of my God-given faith, help me to hear Your voice above all the din, and fear not!

# 103 Famines: God's Moving Company

The Book of Genesis Day 103 Ge 12:10 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land. Think about the test of faith this must have been for Abram. God had just promised this magnificent land to Abram’s descendants, and now he had to leave it because of famine. Think of the grumbling you and I would probably engage in at such a turn of events! Well, like it or not Abram needed to find food for his family and entourage and so he journeyed to Egypt. Famines have a way of moving people to where God wants them to be. Later on, in this Book of Genesis, we will read of a grandson of Abram, (Jacob) who would send his sons to Egypt to find food, and ultimately the family and the great nation of Israel would be preserved! A famine also played a role in the dispersal of main characters in the Book of Ruth. Even in the New Testament, when the early church seemed to be content to stay at Jerusalem, God sent a famine and the believers were dispersed, and this resulted in their delayed obedience to spread the Gospel to the four corners of the earth! None of these people could have imagined that these famines were a part of God’s plan, yet they were, but in spite of all the detours, God carried out all of His promises just as He said HE would! It was just not done in the way these people imagined it. Look at your own life. What kind of shortages and roadblocks have popped up to lead you to where you are today? Is this the route you would have taken or did God have to open and close some doors for you? Well, here you are, and you still haven’t finished the journey. Someday when we are in the promised land of our heavenly home, and we’ll look back and see the providential care of God in each one of our lives, and we will fall down and worship because we are not aware of the half of it! We’ll see the reasons for the detours, and the roadblocks and will worship all the more. Our way may have been more convenient, but God’s way will ultimately result in things like, more character, more faith, and most importantly more people coming with us! It’s about trust! Believe in Jesus Christ and He will get you there and it will be the absolutely best way for you and all others involved. Reflect: Think of just one thing where You can see God’s hand in directing your life. Pray: Father, thank You for Your providential care for Your children. Help us to trust You no matter our circumstance, knowing You have our well-being and the well- being of others in mi

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is Thanksgiving Day in the United States of America and want to share a thought on thankfulness today. But before I do, let me say that I am extremely thankful for those of you who take the time to read my blog on a regular basis. According to the statistical readout this blog has been viewed by many in the United States and around the world! Would you do me a favor? Sometime in the near future would you drop me a line at duanematz122@msn.com and tell me a little bit about yourself. I'd love to hear your story and how you found the blog! Thank you! Happy Thanksgiving! One day of the year which we have set aside in our nation to give thanks to God. Wow! Aren't we something special! A day that has been gobbled up with massive tradition laden meals , football games, dreams of shopping deals on the morrow, and oh yes, maybe.....maybe a table prayer that mentions God, or more likely a list of things and people that we are thankful for. Believe it or not, I don't have a problem with that. Please, enjoy all these good things that God allows us to have! I know I will! But would you at least consider this. Would you consider making a thanksgiving resolution today? No need to declare it at the table, or make an announcement during halftime, just a quiet resolution between you and the Lord to become a thankful person on a daily basis for the next year. Ps 54:6b,7 says, “I will give thanks to Your name O Lord, for it is good. For He has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.” There's your resolution. “I WILL give thanks.” Why? Because God is good, and even when it doesn't appear that way, we have His promise that “all things work together for good, for those who love God and are called according to His purpose,” (Rom 8:28) Further we read that He has delivered us from every trouble. That doesn't mean that He removes trouble, it means that He delivers us through our troubles. He gives us what we need to cope and endure. Is that not reason enough to thank Him on a daily basis? Who knows what lies ahead today, tomorrow, or in the year to come? And finally, as you daily give thanks to God for His gift of Jesus, and daily come to Him confessing your sins and receiving His forgiveness, your “eye will look in triumph on your enemies.” No, your enemy is not that family member or neighbor or co-worker that you just can't seem to get along with. Your enemies are the world, your flesh and the devil, who all desire to separate you from the love of God. And in the coming year, if you keep your thanksgiving resolution, and daily confess your sins, receiving God's forgiveness and asking His help for victory over sin in your life, I guarantee you, that your eye will see victory over your enemies. This is the key to the preservation of your soul, and when all is said and done, if it is well with our soul, all we can say is “Thanks Lord!”

# 102 Calling On the Lord

The Book of Genesis Day 102 Ge 12:8 And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. 9 So Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South. Abram keeps moving. He heads south to a place called Bethel. It’s one of the highest places in Canaan with a spectacular view. The name Bethel means “House of God,” Perhaps you have been to such a place yourself. You have paused and looked in awe at a God’s eye view of His creation and were moved to worship. Perhaps it was the view, or maybe it was just Abram seeking direction from the Lord, but he builds another altar and “calls” on the name of the Lord.The basic meaning of the Hebrew word for “calling on the Lord,” is “the enunciation of a specific message.” It is usually addressed to a specific recipient and intended to elicit a specific response. Sounds like a prayer of supplication to me! Abram had a specific question for the Lord, and was desiring a specific answer. I suspect the question had something to do with direction. This must’ve been a beautiful area with a beautiful view. A place that Abram would quite naturally be taken with. In fact, we know that after his journey to Egypt, he returned to this very place and settled with Lot. One can almost hear Abram praying, “Oh Lord, this is such a beautiful place, thank You for leading me to it. Is this where You want me to settle down? “ But God’s silence is deafening. , so Abram picks up stakes and continues traveling south.. It must’ve been very difficult, but Father knows best! So Abram moves on. Perhaps you are in a similar place in your life right now. A time of searching for direction. Don’t be afraid to “call on the Lord.” 1Jo 5:14 says, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us”. Ask for a specific response. Jesus did it in the Garden of Gethsemane, Abram did it at Bethel. If God is silent, perhaps you need to look back at His original instructions. (You’ll find them in His Word) One thing to remember just because something appears beautiful and easy, doesn’t necessarily mean it is God’s will. Learn to be patient. I have seen too many people grab the first option that comes along and they wound up missing what God had intended for them. The Psalmist said in , Ps 27:14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! Pray: Lord, guard my heart from being impetuous. Help me to learn to recognize Your will for me and give me the necessary patience!

# 101 There He Built An Altar

The Book of Genesis Day 101 Ge 12:5 Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan. 6 Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land. 7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. For reasons unknown, Terah, Abram, Lot, and Sarai tarried at Haran. It was Terah’s original intent to travel to Canaan, but for some reason, he decided to stay at Haran, and he died there before he could move on to Canaan. After his death, Abram, Lot, and Sarai took all their possessions and all the people (servants) they had acquired in Haran and took off for Canaan. We are not told how Abram knew it was time to leave, we just knew he went, and we trust that God somehow guided His way. Abram’s first stop was Shechem at the terebinth tree of Moreh. The mention of the tree tells us that this was likely an easily identifiable place. This tree stood out from its surroundings! This tree is referred to in other places in Scripture. For instance, Jacob buried the foreign gods and the earrings that his household had accumulated under the terebinth tree which was by Shechem. (Gen 35:4) The terebinth trees of Moreh are also mentioned by Moses as he tells the people about the land they are about to conquer. (Dt 11:30) This was a place that stood out and a natural place for Abram to stop! It becomes a SUPERNATURAL place as the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants (that word out to perk up the ears of the childless Abram!) I will give this land!” What a marvelous promise. The barren Sarai and Abram would one day have children and those children would own this land! And so Abram built an altar to thank the Lord and serve as a reminder of this great promise to him and others who would follow! Yes, this was a special place, a place where a divine promise was made. It was a place of confirmation! Abram could now move on, for he knew he was on the right path. This was indeed the land that God had promised to show him. How precious it is when the Lord’s sweet confirmation comes to us. Why it’s enough to make you want to build an altar and worship! I have a folder in my computer that I call “Standing Stones.” In this file I have recorded the times that the Lord has confirmed a promise to me. It is a great file to keep because when I am overcome by doubt, I can simply open the file and be reminded of God’s faithfulness. If you don’t have a similar file or journa,l or notebook, may I encourage you to start one? Pray! Thank You Lord for those times when we need to hear from You with some sort of sign that we are on the right track, and You give it! Let us pause often and thank You for Your guidance in our daily lives.

# 100 God’s Incentive Package

The Book of Genesis Day 100 Ge 12:2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." 4 So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Many times, God attaches promises to His commands or instructions. Here, Abram is told that if he gets out of his country, away from his family, and his father’s house, God would make him a great nation and God would bless him. Abram would have a great name and would be a blessing to others. Those who blessed him would be blessed and those who cursed him would be cursed, and through Abram all the families of the earth would be blessed! That’s quite an incentive package wouldn’t you say? In fact, almost a little unbelievable. It might be a whole lot easier to believe God for a little piece of land in Canaan, a family of four, and a camel or two for transportation, but that’s not what God had in mind for Abram. Abram was to become the apple of God’s eye, the father of the great nation of Israel! Wouldn’t you like that “apple of the eye” status of Abram? You already have it in a sense, for God so loved the world (that includes you) that He gave His only begotten Son! If that doesn’t make you feel special I don’t know what will! But He wants to do more for you and through you! That’s why there are so many invitations and calls to obedience and trust in God’s Word, and His promises. It doesn’t take some spiritual giant to accomplish these things. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours ( He put his pants on one leg at a time just like you and I) and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it didn’t rain for three and a half years. His secret? He was just obedient to and trusting in the Word of God. Moses, David, Rahab, Gideon, the disciples were all ordinary people with hearts willing to trust God and His promises. Don’t let your story stop at salvation! Rather, imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Heb 6:12 says, “that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Notice the plural…promises!) God has so much more for His children, all He asks is a little faith, a little obedience, and a little patience. Pray: Father God, thank You for the free gift of salvation. It was only by Your gift of faith that My heart surrendered to You, now I ask that You help me to become the child You want me to be as I continue to exercise faith in Your Word.

#99B Ante Up Dude!

The Book of Genesis Day 99 Ge 12:1 Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. I love to play poker! I’m not very good at it, but I love to play the game. You can’t play poker though unless you ante up. You have to put some chips in the pot before you get the rest of your cards. Well, God is about to play some holy poker with Abram, but Abram is going to have to ante up before the game begins in earnest. In the matter of exercising faith, the first step is to be sure you are hearing from God. Read His Word, and as you read, ask yourself, “Is there something here I can obey? Is there something God is instructing me to do? He instructed Abram by telling him to get out of his idol chasing country and away from his idol worshiping family. That was the ante! Abram had to say to God, “Count me in!” So Abram anted up and left not even knowing where he was going, not yet knowing what cards he would be dealt. I am reminded of the Apostle Paul on his way to Damascus. He meets Jesus , surrenders to Him as Lord, and Jesus tells him to ante up and go to Damascus, and then he will get further instructions (the hand will be dealt) Do you get this? This is God-pleasing faith! God keeps it simple. We need not worry about elaborate planning and our own scheming. God first of all wants to know if you are in the game! Ante up dude! When Abram packs up and leaves Ur, he is telling God, “Count me in!” Paul says the same thing when he heads for Damascus! Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Abram and Paul go, hoping and believing God for further instructions. It’s stepping out in obedience and trusting in God’s Word, confident that He will be faithful on His part. Peter wasn’t given a Coast Guard manual on “How to Walk On Water.” Jesus said “Come!” and over the side of the boat he went, and he walked on water!. God calls each one of us to exercise the measure of faith He has given us. What is He telling you to do in His Word? Are you going to ante up and follow His simple commands, or are you going to fold even before the ante is called for? Ante up pilgrim! Let God know you are in the game, and then be waiting for the cards that He deals out and play them in accordance with His Word! Pray: Father, in the matter of faith, help me to keep it simple and uncomplicated. Let me learn to follow Your simple commands always measuring them in accordance with Your Word.

# 99 Hearing From God

The Book of Genesis Day 99 Ge 12:1 Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. The New Testament gives us a couple of deeper glimpses into this event in Abram’s life. In Acts 7:2-4, Stephen guided by the Holy Spirit fills us in on more of the details of Abram’s calling. “And he said, "Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, 3 "and said to him, 'Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.' 4 "Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell.” It was God who moved Abram to move to Canaan, and when He did, Abram had no clue as to where he would be going. (Try explaining that to the guy who rents you a U-Haul truck!) In Heb 11:8 we read more of this calling, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” This gives us insight into what it means to exercise faith and it is a key to powerful kingdom living! When exercising faith or trust in God’s Word, the first step is to make sure we are hearing from God. God appeared to Abram, so he had no problem there. He knew who he was talking to! You and I hear from God as He speaks to us through His Word, (the Bible) Oh, we may have special visions and prophecies (indeed, some will!) given to us, but every vision and every prophecy must be checked out to be sure it is in compliance with God’s Word! In matters of faith, the bottom line is always, “What does God say?” Peter, commenting on the surety of God’s Word gave his eyewitness account of the spectacular events of the transfiguration, but as spectacular as that event was he said, “We also have the more sure prophetic word” ….the Bible. So before exercising faith, make sure you are hearing from “the more sure prophetic Word,” namely the Bible. Pray before you read. Pray before you heed, and then wait and see what God will do! Reflect: How important is context when reacting to the Word of God? Pray: Lord, help me to boldly trust Your Word, being careful to keep it in context!

# 98 Let Goods and Kindred Go

The Book of Genesis Day 98 Ge 12:1 Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. The Lord speaks to Abram while he was still living in Ur. He tells him to get out of his country, from his family, and from his father’s house, to a land that God would show him. How would you like the Lord to give you that kind of a command? Leave the United States! Say goodbye to all your aunts and uncles, and cousins, even your father, and go someplace else. “Where God? “I will show you!” Good luck explaining that move to the fam! It sounds like an unusual request, yet it was God’s time to move and to show the people of the earth that there is a better way! He would use Abram to be the father of a great nation. Through Abram, all the families of the earth would be blessed. In order to do this, God needed to separate Abram from the idol worshiping Chaldeans, even if some of those idolaters were family members! You see, once again the people of the earth had reverted to all sorts of idolatry including Abram’s family! In Jos 24:2 we get a glimpse of life in the household of Abram: “ And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Your fathers, including Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, dwelt on the other side of the River in old times; and they served other gods. So God called Abram out, even from his family! You know, that reminds me of what Jesus said in Lu 14:26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.” The Greek word for “hate” here means “to love less.” Abram loved his homeland, his family, and even himself, “less” than he loved God! So he departed as the Lord had spoken to him. He had no idea where he was going, he just followed God’s instructions. Guess what? When Jesus said to His disciples (and that includes you and I) “Follow Me” He was simply restating the command that God had given Abram. Beloved, Follow Jesus! Love all things less than you love God. It is the test of true discipleship. As the hymn states, “Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also!” You have no idea where the path of Jesus will take you, but you won’t regret it. Just remember to be true to His Word as you follow Him. Reflect: Have you ever taken any steps of faith, not knowing what the outcome would be? Pray: Father, we want to follow Jesus, especially after all He has done for us on the cross. Help us to “let go” of anything that may be holding us back. Help us to be “all in” with Jesus!

# 97 The Righteous Line of Shem

The Book of Genesis Day 97 Ge 11:10 This is the genealogy of Shem: Shem was one hundred years old, and begot Arphaxad two years after the flood. 11 After he begot Arphaxad, Shem lived five hundred years, and begot sons and daughters. 12 Arphaxad lived thirty-five years, and begot Salah. 13 After he begot Salah, Arphaxad lived four hundred and three years, and begot sons and daughters. 14 Salah lived thirty years, and begot Eber. 15 After he begot Eber, Salah lived four hundred and three years, and begot sons and daughters. 16 Eber lived thirty-four years, and begot Peleg. 17 After he begot Peleg, Eber lived four hundred and thirty years, and begot sons and daughters. 18 Peleg lived thirty years, and begot Reu. 19 After he begot Reu, Peleg lived two hundred and nine years, and begot sons and daughters. 20 Reu lived thirty-two years, and begot Serug. 21 After he begot Serug, Reu lived two hundred and seven years, and begot sons and daughters. 22 Serug lived thirty years, and begot Nahor. 23 After he begot Nahor, Serug lived two hundred years, and begot sons and daughters. 24 Nahor lived twenty-nine years, and begot Terah. 25 After he begot Terah, Nahor lived one hundred and nineteen years, and begot sons and daughters. 26 Now Terah lived seventy years, and begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran. 27 This is the genealogy of Terah: Terah begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran begot Lot. 28 And Haran died before his father Terah in his native land, in Ur of the Chaldeans. 29 Then Abram and Nahor took wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and the father of Iscah. 30 But Sarai was barren; she had no child. 31 And Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram's wife, and they went out with them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan; and they came to Haran and dwelt there. 32 So the days of Terah were two hundred and five years, and Terah died in Haran. Lots of names as God the Holy Spirit moves Moses to go to ancestry.com and record the righteous line of Abraham. (Just kidding of course,) but when you think about it, this is amazing! How does one trace a family line from the time of the flood to the time of Abraham with such detail? I mean, I can go as far back as my grandparents and that’s it! A couple of things stand out in this genealogy. Notice that the average lifespan has slowly but surely decreased and the age of recorded child bearing is getting younger, and note also the first mention of a barren woman, namely Sarai. The barrenness of Sarai will come into play big time in the faith story of Abraham! And also note that marriage of a man and his half sister was permissible. It would not be specifically forbidden by God until the time of Moses. With this more detailed genealogy of Shem, the story of redemption that had been promised to Adam and Eve begins in earnest with a man named Abram, about 2000 years after the fall of man. 400 years after the flood, God called Abram to become the founder of a nation having for its object the reclamation and redemption of mankind! We pick the story up with Terah, the father of Abram. Terah had three sons. Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran was the father of Lot and he died while Terah was still living in Ur of the Chaldeans. Abram marries Sarai, but she is barren and they have no children. At this point Terah decides to take Abram, Sarai, and Lot to the land of Canaan, but he gets no further than the city of Haran. He died before they could get to Canaan. That leaves Abram, Sarai and Lot. The stage is now set for the call of Abram. The example of righteousness by faith is about to be demonstrated for all people for all time! Lord, prepare our hearts to learn the lesson anew! Reflect: How far back can you trace your family tree? Any interesting characters? Pray: Lord thank You for the gift of faith. Help us to understand it to an even deeper level as we look at the story of Abram.

# 96 We Ain't Seen Nothing Yet!

The Book of Genesis Day 96 Ge 11:6 And the LORD said, "Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. 7 "Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech." 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. 9 Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth. It is incredible what can be accomplished when people are united and speak the same language. A casual glance at any history book will show that one of the things all great empires had in common was language. Think about it. The technological advances we enjoy in our world today are the result of a common language, and I don’t mean English! I confess to being a computer illiterate, but it seems to me that computers basically use a common language of binary numbers to communicate. I know it’s a little more complicated than that, but this language of “math” has opened the door to tremendous technological advances, and we haven’t seen anything yet! I wonder sometimes if God isn’t looking down again and musing, “now nothing that they purpose to do will be withheld from them.” The sad thing is that many in their foolish pride, actually begin to believe their own press clippings, and head down the road to Babel, casting aside what they perceive to be the shackles of biblical morality, setting themselves up as gods who decide what is right and wrong. How far will God let us go down this road until He does something about it? The answer is only as far as He says. Ps 2:2-4, says, “The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, 3 "Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us." 4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision.” God is in control! And by the way, this principle of unity and common language works both ways, and it’s time we, in the church, realized it, and tapped into it! Imagine what the church could do if it would be unified, properly motivated, speaking the common language of love and willing to be scattered! You don’t have to imagine, just turn to the second chapter of Acts and read all about it! This was the secret of the success of the early church! They had all things in common and they spoke the common language of the Holy Spirit, “and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” There is no technological advance that surpasses one sinner coming to repentance! Reflect: What technological advances have you seen in your lifetime? Pray: Lord, thank you for this gift of technology, may we move forward under biblical restraints of morality and seek to give You the glory rather than men!

# 95 The Power Of Unity and One Language

The Book of Genesis Day 95 Ge 11:1 Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. 3 Then they said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. 4 And they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth." 5 But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6 And the LORD said, "Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. Having established the genealogies of all the tribes of the world in chapter 10, chapter 11 will tell us why they were dispersed and what caused all the different languages. Evidently, the families of Noah’s sons hung together and travelled westward from Ararat to a plain in the land of Shinar. There, the grandson of Ham named Nimrod, rose to power and he and the people decided to build a city and a tower whose top would be in the heavens. The reason stated for doing this was to “make a name for themselves, lest they be scattered abroad over the face of the earth. Enter the Lord. He came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men built and was impressed. We aren’t told how the Lord did this, or even why it was necessary to come down in person. Surely our omniscient God knew what was going on, why the personal inspection? It is reminiscent of when HE and two angels visited Abraham, before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Why does God make these personal appearances? I think it is to cause us to consider His ultimate appearance among men in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. So God walk among the citizens of Babel and makes this observation: “With unity and one language, look what these people can do! Why nothing will be impossible for them” Now first off, there’s nothing wrong with unity or speaking the same language. Think of what the church could do in this world with unity and the language of love! The problem with Babel was their motivation. They were not motivated to serve God. Their only motivation was to make a great name for themselves and to stay in one tight knit little group. Stop and think about that for a minute, especially as it relates to your church. Are you (we) more interested in making ourselves look good, rather than making God look good? Is your (my) church involved in any kind of outreach beyond its walls, or are we content to stay in our own little country club clusters. This kind of an attitude was and is a recipe for disaster. Pray: Lord, help us to purpose in our heart to scatter Your Word and blessings outside the walls of our church. Help us to remember that You told us to “go” not stay.

# 94 Where Is Your Spiritual Genealogy?

The Book of Genesis Day 94 Genesis chapter 10 is a genealogy chapter which follows the offspring of Noah’s three sons. It is summed up in Ge 10:32 “These were the families of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, in their nations; and from these the nations were divided on the earth after the flood.”It is often referred to as “The Table of Nations,” and it fills the gap between Noah and Abraham If you recall, Genesis 1 gave us an over view of creation and Genesis 2, filled in the details. Here in Genesis 10 we get an over view of where the offspring of Noah eventually settled, and in Genesis 11, we’ll get the details of what happened to cause the dispersal and the different languages. When you come across genealogies in Scripture, you have a couple of options. (1) Spend a great deal of time looking up all the names and places and finding them in other places in the Bible. (2) Underline any and all names that ring a bell with you for future reference. (3) Speed read the chapter and go on to the next. (Most people prefer option #3. Most of the time, I prefer option number 2.) As I go through this chapter, these are the names that stand out to me. (Of course my list will be different than yours. Magog, (referenced in Ezek 39:6, and Rev 20:8,9 as a heathen menace threatening to engulf God’s people. Cush, (settled in Ethiopia and Egypt) Canaan (we have already talked about the curse of Canaan, and we all know of the abominations of the Canaanites. Cush begot Nimrod (a mighty man and hunter) The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, more on that later. Shinar (the geographical area around Babylon) Assyria - the nation that would one day take the northern kingdom of Israel into captivity. Ninevah – a major city of Assyria Pathrusim and Casluhim – from whom came the Philistines. Canaan’s offspring brings up names like, the Jebusites, (ancient inhabitants of Jerusalem) the Amorites, Hivites, all people groups that the Israelites would one day have to deal with. Also it is in this part of the genealogy that we first here of Sodom and Gomorrah. Then we get to the offspring of Shem, the godly line, out of which the Savior would come. Peleg – offspring of Shem who lived when the earth was divided (the time of the tower of Babel) Genealogies may be boring reading, but they are important! They demonstrate how meticulous our Father God is. Detailed descriptions of various lines of people, always paying close attention to the lines of Righteousness, those descendants that would one day produce the Savior of mankind, God’s only Son, Jesus Christ. Scripture of course is complete. No need to add genealogies after the arrival of Jesus, but God is still keeping a genealogy book of sorts. His book is called the Book of Life and only those who believe in Jesus Christ and are baptized are in that Book! Re 20:15 says, “ And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” There were three lines from Noah. Ham’s line became cursed enemies of God and His people. Japheth’s line, also produced enemies of God, but Shem’s line produced the King of Righteousness, Jesus Christ. What line do you want to be in on the Last Day? Pray: Lord, when all is said and done, may I be found in Your Book of Life.

# 93 One Path Led To Blessing, the Other Led To A Curse

The Book of Genesis Day 93 Ge 9:25 Then he said: "Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants He shall be to his brethren." 26 And he said: "Blessed be the LORD, The God of Shem, And may Canaan be his servant. 27 May God enlarge Japheth, And may he dwell in the tents of Shem; And may Canaan be his servant." 28 And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. 29 So all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years; and he died. We’ve been talking about uncovering and covering nakedness. In modern terminology, that could be anything from keeping your clothes on, to dressing modestly, and most importantly respecting those things that were designed for intimacy between man and wife alone. It covers improper viewing, improper touching, and improper flaunting. It includes any and all attempts at pornography, in short, all that concerns human sexuality should be reserved for the marriage bed. Heb 13:4 says, “ Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” We have a choice in this matter. One path leads to a curse, the other to blessing. Ham chose to violate this God-given boundary through improper viewing of his father’s nakedness. His son Canaan was cursed because of it. How often have we seen this generational sin played out today? One family member disregards the sexual boundaries set by God, and the sin manifests itself in some form of addiction in the victim’s future. It seems only supernatural intervention from God is able to break the cycle. It’s the kind of supernatural intervention by the grace of God if you will, that allowed Shem and Japheth to defeat the temptation to join in their brother’s folly and cover their father’s nakedness without taking a peek. Canaan is cursed, while Shem and Japheth are blessed. Noah in his drunkenness became naked and set a path before his children. One path led to life, the other death. Somehow, somewhere, someone will likewise err today. They will inadvertently or willfully lay that path before you or a child. Uncovered nakedness is everywhere and access is instantaneous. . The question is, which path will you choose? Which path will you teach your child to choose? Will you linger and be carried into sin as Ham was? Or will you turn your eyes from temptation and remove it from your sight? God has promised to give us grace for every moment of temptation that we face. Today, when that moment arrives, turn to Him for help in choosing the right path. Ps 101:3 says, “ I will set nothing wicked before my eyes;” May God help it be so! Pray: Father, the temptation to uncover nakedness has been around a long time and seems to be heightened in today’s society. Give us the will and self-control to resist and keep sexual purity as You intended.

#92 Uncovered Nakedness….It’s Everywhere!

The Book of Genesis Day 92 Ge 9:20 And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. 21 Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. 23 But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father's nakedness. 24 So Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done to him. 25 Then he said: "Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants He shall be to his brethren." We live in a society where the boundary line of “covered nakedness,” established by God, has been tossed aside. Everywhere we turn, it seems we are exposed to more and more flesh. It’s on the internet, in the movies, on TV, in the commercials, and in fashion magazines. Strip clubs are advertised in the sports pages of our newspapers and on billboards that dot our highways. “Exit now!” “Exit here!” It’s in our clothing styles which leave little to the imagination! It’s in adult video stores and even video stores supposedly geared for families! It’s at the corner gas station and at every checkout line in the grocery stores! Our culture screams, “Flesh! Flesh! And more flesh!” What was to be preserved for the marriage bed, has become common, profane, available for all to see, and it has come with a terrible price tag. We live in a society that is consumed by sex, and guess what? As befits the justice of God, (we get what we ask for) sex is consuming us! Think about it! STD’s, aids, rape, pre-marital sex, extra-marital sex, incest, homosexuality, sky rocketing divorce rates, abortion, all can be tied to our society’s fixation with sex. Self esteem is crippled for young men and women because they don’t think they measure up! What would happen in a society that would return to God’s plan of covered nakedness, that He established at the very beginning? Nakedness that was meant to be undefiled on the marriage bed! How many of those diseases and problems can be caused with our clothes on? If we would stay behind that line, where would all the problems go? Ham crossed that boundary line and just as today, it affected the generations that followed! His son Canaan was cursed, and guess what land Sodom and Gomorrah was located in? Canaan! Guess who committed the abominations spoken of in Lev 18? The uncovering of nakedness of next of kin, (incest) adultery, child sacrifices (abortion( homosexuality, and even bestiality all committed by the Canaanites!, and it all started with a little uncovering of someone’s nakedness. Friend, fight for this God-given boundary of modesty in your home, and may your example lead the way for higher standards in your church, your school, and your community! Pray: Lord, help us to return to Your ways of purity. Let us learn anew to seek the true beauty that is shrouded in modesty!

# 91 Turn Your Eyes Away From Improper Sexual Viewing

The Book of Genesis Uncovering Nakedness Day 91 Ge 9:20 And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. 21 Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. 23 But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father's nakedness. Well, looky here! Sin is alive and well, even after the flood! It starts with the righteous Noah getting plastered and becoming shamelessly uncovered in his tent. So what’s the big deal? Well, you should know by now that drunkenness is a sin, but what is this business about being uncovered? It’s obviously about being naked. Ham’s problem was his “approach” to his father’s nakedness. In Le 18:6 we read, 'None of you shall approach anyone who is near of kin to him, to uncover his nakedness: I am the LORD”. “Approach to uncover” carries with it the idea of illicit sexual motivation. The rest of this chapter in Leviticus goes on to give the details of WHO is considered to be the next of kin. It’s clear that this familial nakedness is a boundary line God does not want crossed! There are many other references in the Old Testament concerning the uncovering of one’s nakedness, and they all deal with what could be described as a violation of something sexually sacred. So this has something to do with violation of the family bond and that’s what we are dealing with here in this incident with Noah. Ham violated a family bond by gazing upon his father’s nakedness. (something that should have been reserved for Mrs. Noah and no one else) To make it worse, he tells his brother’s about it, like a schoolboy who stumbles upon pornography for the first time. The proper response would have been for Ham to discreetly cover his father’s nakedness as Shem and Japhet did. Why these safeguards against nakedness in the family? Because nakedness is a gateway to the terrible sin of incest, and there is probably nothing more devastating to a family bond and family trust than incest. A family should be a sexually safe place! The only uncovered nakedness in a family is to be reserved for the marriage bed between husband and wife. Keep this God-given boundary forever in mind in all your family relations, and do not cross it, lest you be tempted to walk in the footsteps of Ham…..more on that next time. Pray: Father, guard our hearts against any and all sexual sin. Let us learn to dress and behave modestly in and out of our families!

#89 Rainbows!

The Book of Genesis Day 89 Ge 9:8 Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying: 9 "And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you, 10 "and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth. 11 "Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth." 12 And God said: "This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 "I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 14 "It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; 15 "and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 "The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." 17 And God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth." 18 Now the sons of Noah who went out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And Ham was the father of Canaan. 19 These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated. Having established capital punishment as a deterrent to protect men from each other, God now gives mankind the formal assurance of safety from any future worldwide flood. He sets His rainbow in the cloud. Ah the rainbow! Saw one just the other day near sunset and the whole eastern sky was under God’s beautiful archway of promise! Rainbows of course most commonly occur at the end of a rainstorm. As the rain continues to fall, the sun breaks through the clouds, and as the sunlight penetrates the drops of water, it is refracted and displays all the colors of the spectrum in a beautiful arc! Rainbows have always been special in our house. When we see one, a family member will call out excitedly, “Come see the rainbow!” And we run and we look and we marvel! I think this is generally true for all people, believers or not. Something stirs in our heart, We don’t know what it is or why, but we are always drawn to this awesome sight in the heavens. I remember the first time God opened up this portion of Scripture for me. It made me want to cry, leap for joy, and fall to my knees all at the same time. . For the first time I understood why there is something mystical and even worshipful about a rainbow! Look again at verse 16 and pay attention to what God says about the rainbow! “The rainbow shall be in the cloud and I will look on it.” Do you understand the significance of that statement? Every time a rainbow appears in the clouds God promises to look at it! That means when you and I rush out to see a rainbow, our eyes meet the very gaze of God! He is on the other side at that very moment looking at you. You are seeing the face of God veiled through the rainbow! (Which by the way, embodies all that Jesus is!) It’s a picture of the only way we can see God and that is, through Jesus! Pray: Thank You Lord for the special occurrence of rainbows, may we always use them as an opportunity to pause and worship You!

# 88 Bring Life, Not Death

The Book of Genesis Day 88 Ge 9:6 "Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man. 7 And as for you, be fruitful and multiply; Bring forth abundantly in the earth And multiply in it." “And as for you,” I remember my parents or other authority figures in my early childhood years using a very similar phrase of warning for me, “As for you young man…..” (I think it happens a lot when you have an older brother) It usually came after some sort of punishment had been meted out to my brother, with the implication that I should be different, and if I wasn’t? Well, I saw what my brother’s bottom looked like, and the same was waiting for me, if I wasn’t careful. This is what was going on here between God and Noah. God just got done telling Noah that there would be violent men on this earth, and these violent men were to be dealt with severely. (verse 6) Noah was not to be like them. In fact he was to be just the opposite. Instead of ending lives violently , he was to be fruitful and multiply, bringing forth life abundantly! Do you see the contrast? One type sheds blood and destroys life, the other brings it forth! That’s what the people of God are called to do! Bring forth life! Others will seek to engage in a culture of death, but as for those in the righteous line of Noah, (Christians today) we are to bring forth what? LIFE! Somehow we have gotten the idea that large families are a curse. Out of a spirit of fear (and that’s what it is bottom line) we have done everything in our power to limit the size of our families. We have turned the blessing of God into a curse choosing to bring children forth sparingly and according to our appointed times and schedules. Many times unwittingly using birth control devices and pills that actually result in the death of another uniquely created individual. A God image bearing child! God has not called us to this culture of death! He has called us to be a culture of life! And it goes far beyond mere physical reproduction. We are also called to bring forth abundant spiritual life! (Go! Make disciples!) How do we do that? It starts by a complete yielding to the Lord Jesus Christ, and as human life is a possibility when husbands and wives yield to each other physically, so it is with spiritual life! Yield to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to bring forth that spiritual life as He works to do His will in our life through His Word. Remember, God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2Ti 1:7) The soundest mind is the one that trusts God and His word, and it is this trust, this yielding that produces the power and love necessary for this life and beyond. Reflect: How can the spirit of fear be overcome? Pray: Lord, help me to trust more and more in Your Word, it truly is the most “reasonable” thing I can do!

# 87 God Institutes Capital Punishment

The Book of Genesis Day 87 Ge 9:4 "But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. 5 "Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man's brother I will require the life of man. Blood. It is a very precious commodity to God. He likens it to life itself! After Cain slew Abel, what cried out from the ground? Abel’s blood! Why did God destroy the earth? Because it was filled with violence, and violence speaks of spilled blood. But things are going to be a little different in Noah’s world as compared to Adam’s. God says, “I am not going to curse the ground for man’s sake as I did with Cain (Gen 4:11) and I’m not going to destroy every living thing as I did with the flood. However, don’t think I will allow violence against each other go unpunished! Noah, if someone or something kills you, they are going to have to answer for it, and they will have to answer for it with their own life! If a beast kills a man, it will have to be put to death. If a man kills another man, he will have to be put to death. With these verses, God has instituted capital punishment. Is it still in effect today? What did the Holy Spirit say speaking through the Apostle Paul in Ro 13:3,4, “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.” Without fear of reckoning in a sinful world, violence would go unchecked. It happened before the flood, and it will happen, indeed it is happening in our world today. Capital punishment is meant to be a just restraint on violence in our world. It lets people know that the taking of another life, which has been created in the image of God will not be tolerated. Of course, capital punishment should never be carried out as an act of swift vengeance. It should be carried out with careful attention to truth and justice. To put to death an innocent man would be a terrible thing! But know this, God says if you mess with life he has created, be prepared to pay, because you have messed with something sacred, something made in His image. Yet, even those who have spilled the blood of others can be forgiven when they turn to God in true repentance! You see, there once was a man, (Jesus) who was innocent and took the punishment of death that we all deserve, and there is no sin that Jesus did not pay for on that cross! Ask David who murdered Uriah. Ask Paul, who before his conversion murdered many for their faith in Christ. Never forget, God forgives and God heals! Reflect: What does this portion of Scripture tell you about the value of life in the eyes of God? Pray: Lord, help us to cherish all life from conception to the grave, in Jesus name, Amen