Together
1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” 4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. 5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. 6 Abram travelled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 The Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’ So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8 From there he went on towards the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. (Genesis 12:1-8)
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. (1 Peter 3:7)
One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. (Psalm 145:4)
Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9)
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. (1 Peter 3:7)
One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. (Psalm 145:4)
Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9)
The Lord called Abraham to leave his home behind to follow him. But what’s interesting is that God didn’t call him to leave behind his household. We are told that he took his wife Sarah with him. He also took his nephew and best friend Lot with him. They were also accompanied by many other people who were part of Abraham’s household – probably referring to his servants, but in our culture more likely to be our children, housemates or extended family.
Now this is really interesting. Christianity isn’t a call to individual piety, leaving our friends and family behind to become a monk or a hermit. Christianity is a call to become part of the Body of Christ – that is, to follow Jesus together. The verses that we have read together today emphasise this pretty strongly. 1 Peter 3 tells us that if we don’t allow Christ into our marriages, our prayers will be hindered in heaven. Psalm 145 tells us that if we don’t allow Christ into our parenting, our children will grow up ignorant of God. Genesis 4 encourages us to allow Christ into our friendships too. The truth is, we are all our brother and our sister’s keepers – everyone of us.
This is our last week of Everyday Devotions before we take a break for Christmas and recommence our Everyday Devotions on Monday 4th January. Take a few moments today, therefore, to reflect on who is your equivalent of Abraham’s household on his way to the Promised Land. If you are married with children, then part of your answer will be very easy. But what about your friends and work colleagues? Which of these are your ‘household’ too?
Now this is really interesting. Christianity isn’t a call to individual piety, leaving our friends and family behind to become a monk or a hermit. Christianity is a call to become part of the Body of Christ – that is, to follow Jesus together. The verses that we have read together today emphasise this pretty strongly. 1 Peter 3 tells us that if we don’t allow Christ into our marriages, our prayers will be hindered in heaven. Psalm 145 tells us that if we don’t allow Christ into our parenting, our children will grow up ignorant of God. Genesis 4 encourages us to allow Christ into our friendships too. The truth is, we are all our brother and our sister’s keepers – everyone of us.
This is our last week of Everyday Devotions before we take a break for Christmas and recommence our Everyday Devotions on Monday 4th January. Take a few moments today, therefore, to reflect on who is your equivalent of Abraham’s household on his way to the Promised Land. If you are married with children, then part of your answer will be very easy. But what about your friends and work colleagues? Which of these are your ‘household’ too?
1) Abraham set out in faith to the Promised Land together with his circle of family and friends. Who are yours?
2) How can you follow Jesus with your heart on your sleeve towards those people? How can you let them into the faith that you have towards God as you head towards the Promised Land together?
3) What prayers do you imagine Abraham was praying for Sarah, Lot and the rest of his household? What prayers do you need to bring to the Lord for your ‘household’ today?
2) How can you follow Jesus with your heart on your sleeve towards those people? How can you let them into the faith that you have towards God as you head towards the Promised Land together?
3) What prayers do you imagine Abraham was praying for Sarah, Lot and the rest of his household? What prayers do you need to bring to the Lord for your ‘household’ today?
Father God, I thank you that I am not on my own in the world. Thank you for the family and the friends that you have given me. Please help me to follow you in full view of those people, so that I might encourage them and they might encourage me, as we journey in faith towards your Promised Land together. Amen.
If you have time, consider carrying on your conversation with God using one of our helpful Prayer Pathways.
Today’s Everyday Devotions have also inspired a devotional video that you can watch on our YouTube channel.
Join our online service at everyday.online
Today’s Everyday Devotions have also inspired a devotional video that you can watch on our YouTube channel.
Join our online service at everyday.online