I was in the read-thru this morning…. And Genesis 18:19 caught my attention…….have you ever wondered about God’s call on our lives… what does that look like, wherein would He have us serve, what are we called to?
I kept reading and re-reading v18. We kinda know the story forward…. how God would use Abraham, — a “people” would come from him, ultimately a mighty nation, even more ultimately…. a Savior! All the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him! Yet look at Abraham’s specific instruction!
v18 For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has promised him.
I wonder if Abraham ever thought he was doing too little? Every day…. see that the flocks are taken care of, see that his family was cared for, (survive basically, or maybe more kindly put… live life) and while living it… believe God, teach your children and your household about God and why He matters, tell them the stories of waiting and believing, tell them we’ve been called out to keep “His way” by doing righteousness and justice. Tell them He’s promised to bring blessing — we may not understand it all, we may not fully grasp what that “blessing” will entail! But we believe God!
So interesting, as I type that I’m reminded of the verbiage that’s quoted in so many other places in the Bible about Abraham!!!
“And he believed the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness.”
Genesis 15:6 ESV
“just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?”
Galatians 3:6 ESV
“For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”
Romans 4:3 ESV
“and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.”
James 2:23 ESV
“No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in Him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”
Romans 4:20-25 ESV
Ya gotta love that last one from Romans!! Bless Paul’s heart…… ever the missionary, he’s always so good to make it abundantly clear that this is for us, too! Thank you, Paul!
So as we move on into the unfoldings of our day, mundane as it might seem (or frantic, or fearful, or joyful —- none of that is the point) .. the point is, the call still stands strong — we, too, have been called to believe God, to teach our children and our household about God and why He matters, tell them the stories of waiting and believing, tell them we’ve been called out to keep “His way” by doing righteousness and justice. Tell them He’s promised to bring blessing — we may not understand it all, we may not fully grasp what that “blessing” will entail! But we know WHO the blessing is…. it’s JESUS!! It was Jesus all along!!
Romans 4:24 …It will be counted to us who believe in Him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”
kathyvlittle.com 
This is our blue print for the New Year and every year of our life. It seems so simple yet hard to do. It takes consistency, faithfulness, determination and discipline. Yet, we get sidetracked many times because we deal with our flesh which wars against the spirit. Bottom line: get up when you fail. Don’t stay in the shadow of regret. Thanks for bringing this to our attention!
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Amen!! So true, dear sister of mine!❤️
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Earlier this week I was finishing up a study of Leviticus. God had instituted the certain feasts (Passover, Day of Atonement, etc) that they were commanded to celebrate. The purpose (or one of them) was for them to remember how He had shown His love and grace and mercy (all the stories behind the feast days). When you get toward the end of Leviticus, you learn Israel never celebrated the Sabbath year. It was the start of their backsliding and we all know the story of how they rebelled against God. They stopped remembering. The desire to tell their children about God’s blessings in the past waned.
When I was studying this though, it made me think about the present day and our children (grandchildren, nieces/nephews, neighbors, etc). Yes, it’s important to have them in church for them to see it’s a (THE!) priority in our lives. BUT how much are we talking about the goodness of God in our lives? Are we telling about all the blessings in our lives and how they ALL point back to our loving Savior?
We have tried to teach our kids this principle as they have grown up into adults, but it’s something we need to continue for their benefit and all the others who will listen. It gives God praise because He is worthy. Abraham got it! This whole diatribe is what I thought of when I read your post. I had sent myself notes (as I often do) to write a blog post on it, and maybe I will for sure now. 😉
Thank you again for more of your enlightening “ponderments.” 💓
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I love this, Leslie!! And I can’t wait to read your ponderments when you write that blog entry of yours!! Isn’t it just the coolest thing how CONNECTED God’s Word is! And all of it continuing to point us back to Jesus!!
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