"Your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing." - 2 Thessalonians 1:3b

Friday, January 20, 2012

Genesis 25-26 We See Plainly


by Jill Ice

Genesis 26:28 “We see plainly that the Lord has been with you…”

We continue the narrative of Abraham’s faith and obedience to God by following the family line to Abraham’s son Isaac.  Isaac was clearly blessed because of his father’s covenant with God – he was given land to dwell in and offspring that would number as the stars of heaven.

But Isaac did not rest upon his father’s laurels. Isaac showed faith of his own – when God commanded him to stay in a land wracked with famine, Isaac obeyed.  Isaac planted crops and in the same year reaped a hundredfold.  Others around him began to notice.

Soon Isaac’s enemies came to him to make a covenant of peace with him.  Isaac, knowing these people hated him, questioned their motives.  Isaac’s enemies replied:

“We see plainly that the Lord has been with you… You are now the blessed of the Lord.” 

Prosperity was clearly upon Isaac – everyone could see it.  But it was also clear that it was a result of God’s blessing. 

We know that physical prosperity is not the hallmark of God’s blessing upon His people.  So how can others “plainly see” that God is with us?

In John 13:35, Jesus gives his disciples a new command: By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Most of the time, the world will not see God’s love apart from His people, who are the visible representation of Christ on earth.  We need to actively seek out ways to show God’s love towards others. And when God interrupts our insignificant, mundane plans with opportunities to live out God’s love, we need to joyfully embrace God’s plans and let His love shine through us.

"Help me to walk as Jesus walked,
My only Savior and perfect model,
His mind my inward guest,
His meekness my covering garb."
-Valley of Vision
“Christlikeness”

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