Genesis 13:5-15:21
Matthew 5:27-48
Psalm 6:1-10
Proverbs 1:29-33
Genesis 13:8 So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”
10 Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom.
Abram had a heart to do what is right and was generous with his nephew Lot. He let Lot pick where he would settle. Lot could have picked the land promised to Abram in the previous chapter. Abram is not only showing a generous and loving heart but he is also showing his faith in God. He knew that God had promised the land of Canaan to his descendant so even if Lot had selected Canaan Abram knew God will fulfil His promise somehow and sometime. Talk about trusting God and putting it in his hands. He could have said since God said he was going to give me this land and I am your elder I will stay here you go that way. Lot when given the ability to choose did not hesitate to take what he saw as the best land for himself. Which ends up being a very poor choice for him and Abram has to go and rescue him.
Genesis 15:6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
God had appeared to Abram in a vision and promises to be his shield and reward. Abram asks Him what good is any reward when he has no dependents to leave them to. I think this is telling us that asking God why, when and how is not wrong. Abram demonstrated his faith over and over again in the past but he still asked the question about the thing that was causing him grief. But when God answered him with a promise that had to sound impossible with no why, where, when or how, he believed him. When we are struggling we need to move toward God. We can ask the questions but then we need to listen to the answer and when He gives it even if it seems impossible and vague the right thing to do is to believe Him. That it may also be credited to us as righteousness.
The sermon on the mount in Matthew is filled with teaching on what it means to do the right thing. He gives a lot a clarity on what the intent of the law is as opposed to what the teaching of the religious leaders was.
Matthew 5:39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Teaching - if you do something to wrong or hurt someone then you can and should receive equal punishment. If someone wrongs you hurts you then you have the right to punish them for it. But the purpose of this law was to help control the response of those who were wronged and hurt. A sinful heart that is self-focused and hurting will allow you to lash out in extremes and that was happening. The law was to keep them from going to extremes. But a righteous heart will not seek payback but will show grace and love.
Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Matthew 5:46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Our humanity wants things to be fair. But Jesus is saying that the righteous thing to do is to do what He will do for us. In fairness we all deserve death and suffering. The fair thing is for us to suffer for all that we have done to God and to those around us. The fair thing is that since Jesus was crucified and died even though he did nothing wrong so every person who had anything to do with His death should also be crucified. But that is not what He did He suffered and died for theirs and our sins. He showed grace and love to those who hurt Him. He prayed for those who criticized and condemned Him even while He was suffering. If we are paying back the hurt and wrongs and only loving those who love us and hating those who persecute and afflict us we are no better than a non-believer. We need to be kind and generous even to those who don't deserve it according to the world's standards. Because as a follower of Jesus we are to live according to God's standard not the worlds and God will minister to our hearts minds and souls. Those we forgive and pray for and care for may receive it and be changed and maybe not. But when we forgive with love, grace and generosity God blesses us and we WILL be changed. It may seem impossible and to do these things but He said it can be done and should be done so will you believe Him?
Genesis 15:6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
All Things are Possible - https://youtu.be/sPRffoJ9Bh0?si=J6WGWgtzYlrvur7L
Do the right thing…. These words came to me as I was driving home from work yesterday. I was thinking of a little boy who was just seen as a patient in our office. he’s been coming in about every 2 to 4 weeks for a weight check for failure to thrive.. Of course, there is much debate whether he is being taken care of properly. A lot is involved in that. But I overheard the mother saying that she was pregnant. And the sense of dread for that child came over me. My thoughts became negative towards the family. They can’t take care of one child and now they’re going to have another. Then for some reason on m…