DEVOTIONS

Monday, January 16 – “Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you’”. (Galatians 3:8) The ultimate reason that all nations are blessed through Abraham is the fact that Jesus was a descendant of Abraham.  Through Jesus, all who believe are saved. Yet, think about this today, the majority of the world’s population is blessed through Abraham.  For Abraham is honored by Jews, Muslims as well as Christians.  All of history and the three major world religions all flow through Abraham.  God wasn’t joking when he prophesied that “All nations will be blessed through you.”

Tuesday, January 17 – “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.’” (Revelation 5:9) Jesus died on the cross for all people.  For all tribes, all tongues, all nationalities, all nations, all people.  Do you believe it?  Some think that Jesus only died for some people; a certain race, a certain nationality, a certain ethnicity.  Don’t be fooled.  Jesus came to pay the price for all people.  The debt is paid for all. 

Wednesday, January 18 – “Look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth.  When I called him he was only one man, and I blessed him and made him many.” (Isaiah 51:2) You are only one person. What can God do through you?  So was Abraham and Sarah.  You are too old.  What can God do through you?  So was Abraham and Sarah.  You aren’t talented, well connected, rich, educated, gregarious, etc.  What can God do through you?  So was Abraham and Sarah. Or, better said, so weren’t Abraham and Sarah.  God isn’t looking for your abilities.  God is looking for your availability.    

Thursday, January 19 – “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him.” (Romans 10:12) Humans are very good at building walls, creating separation, dividing everyone into “haves” and “have-nots”.  That is our sin-stained nature operating.  God sees all of us as the same – children in need of saving.  Saving from ourselves.  We are our own worst enemy.  We are so busy protecting ourselves and our reality, that we miss out on the beauty of God’s way and God’s reality. 

Friday, January 20 – “And through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed. Because you have obeyed me.” (Genesis 22:18) The future will be blessed or cursed by your decisions today.  There is a bigger picture.  There is something greater going on here than simply your life.  Your obedience or disobedience will have a ripple effect on the future.  Abraham was far from perfect, but he was faithful.  It was his faith in God, not his faith in his own abilities or perfection, that blessed “all nations on earth”.  The same is true for you. 

Saturday, January 21 – “And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers.  He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’” (Acts 3:25) You are an heir of the covenant that God made with Abraham.  It’s your time to shine.  Your time to carry this covenant to a new generation.  To all those who will come after you who need to know that God is trustworthy and able to do all that he has promised.  All of history is looking to you.  Will you believe in God’s promises?  So that those who come after you will have the possibility of believing in God promises?