Daily Scripture Threshing for Wednesday, August 16, 2023
Today’s Text: Genesis 13:1-18
Key Verse: Genesis 13:14 (ESV): “And the LORD said to Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now your eyes, and look from the place where you are northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward.”
The devil uses many things in and around our lives to hurl down our hearts and heads — things that happen or fail to, which blur our sight of other goodness and blessings of God in our lives. For Abraham, the departure of Lot best fit that category. That was not just a relative; but a companionship that had shared his vision when Abraham obeyed God to leave his country. And, he was, perhaps, a suitable alternative as an heir in Abraham’s childlessness. No doubt, that separation might be emotionally difficult; but God has someone in mind in this biblical example.
When God needs us to look up, He takes away our cherished distractions. He allows issues that seem to put us down; promises or prophesies that are delayed; the death of a dearest one; loss or lack of gainful employment; an Ahitophel who would take counsel with enemies; people who would malign us; events that would bruise us on the face; family upset; personal failure —things and situations that can cause heartbreak and bow our spirits. But God uses those pain to evince our greatest hopes. He causes His Sun of righteousness to shine on us with healing in His wings and lifts our eyes to where true help comes from (Psalms 121:1).
Some Lots are unnecessary burdens in life, but our eyes are often blinded to that fact because we look at them rather than look up to God. And except God breaches that trust; except we go through those shadows; except the waterloos loom, and except we lose that job; we may not look up and/or never truly experience our most needed and suitable visitation for the next level. Abram was still brooding in that place, soaked in his sense of loss and failing to see his opportunity to have a most extensive survey of the future set before him—the Promised Land. What is that situation in your life, also, that makes you so forlorn? Hear what God says, lift your eyes now!
Quote for the Day: “The best way and time to experience deeper comfort of God’s loving presence is in quietude. Then indeed we’d realize how much our noisy world or lousy company deprives us.” (Simon Olatunji)
Prayer: Dear Lord, I need the inner strength to be able to lift my head and say like David: “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. ... Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. — in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.
With all my love and prayers,
Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.
Your Darling Bishop (DaBishop)
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[Daily Scripture Threshing is a devotional guide of The House of Prayer Evangel Church USA distributed for free use by individuals, small groups, families, and Christian churches]
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