THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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A man asked God how long a million years were to Him. God replied, "Only like a single second."
The same man asked God how much a million dollars was to Him. God said, "Only like a penny."
The same man asked God, "May I have one of your pennies?"
God said, "Sure, my son. Just a second."
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Gen 12:1-3
1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
KJV
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God gave Abraham a promise that was baked in faith. If Abraham wanted to be blessed, and be a blessing to others, then he had to LEAVE his home and GO where God led him. God promised to be WITH Abraham, to PROTECT him and to PROVIDE for him. He also promised that Abraham's descendents would be a great nation.
Christian, have you thought of God's promises of His presence, protection, provision, as baked in faith? We must leave who we are and shape our lives as God directs us.
Abraham's Lord, Jehovah, made these promises. Our Lord, Jesus, said the basically the same thing in Luke 9:23: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me." We must remember that the Jehovah of the Old Testament and the Jesus of the New Testament are One and the Same!
If we want to know the joy of God's presence, protection and provision, we must commit to Jesus in trust and follow Him in faith.
Now there seems to be some misunderstanding about the nation of Abraham's descendents having these promises made to Abraham. However, if one reads the Scripture it is noticed that God promised Abraham these things as an individual based on his commitment of trust and obedience to God's will. The nation that resulted did not necessarily incur the promises based on heritage alone. God's promises are based on INDIVIDUAL commitment of trust and INDIVIDUAL obedience to His will.
In the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 28, God told the NATION of Israel (through Moses) that there would be blessings upon them IF they were committed and obedient (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). God also promised there would be cursings upon them if they were disobedient (Deuteronomy 28:15-68).
Remember, God's blessings are not based on physical genealogy but on spiritual genealogy. It is not by whom a person is born physically, but by Whom a person is born AGAIN spiritually. The old saying is true that "one cannot ride into heaven on Daddy's or Mama's coattail!"
Be committed in trust to Christ our Lord.
And be faithful in works that demonstrate that commitment.
Then be blessed, and be a blessing.
Love ya,
Bruce