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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