Bible Truth Daily Devotion

April 30, 2010

God’s Love for Abraham

Filed under: Devotion in Genesis — Tags: , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 9:00 am

Genesis 20:1-18

 

 

Abraham is called the Father of Faith.  The title referred to the fact that he was reckoned to be righteous because of his faith (Genesis 15:6).  The fact of the matter is that Abraham did not possess perfect faith.  We will see in this passage that Abraham compromised in a distressing situation.  Nevertheless, God did not forsake Abraham but surrounded him with more grace and more love.

 

Commentary:

Genesis 20:2. Abraham repeated the lie that he told the king of Egypt to protect himself and his family from harm.  This was necessary because of the beauty of Sarah and of the condition of the world.  Most kings would not hesitate to kill the husband of the woman that they wanted to sleep with. 

Genesis 20:3-7. This conversation between God and Abimelech showed that he apparently knew God.  He was an upright king, and God had taken his situation into account. 

Genesis 20:12-13. The half-truth that Abraham and Sarah told was some agreement that they had to keep themselves safe for the world that they were in. 

 

Meditation:

God knew the weaknesses of Abraham.  In spite of that, God still loved Abraham. He protected him from harm.  To keep His promise to Abraham, God also protected Sarah from being violated by kings.

The way God dealt with Abraham is also the way He would handle us.  Lovingly, God would teach us, guide us, and mold us.  When we are in trouble or when we are weak, he does not forsake us.  The Bible says that Jesus knows our weakness and deals with us gently (Heb 5:2).  God would protect us when we’re in trouble.  God works in a way that we cannot see.  But His provision is sure. 

Finally, the greatest work that God has done is the work on the cross.  In shedding his blood, Jesus has surely bore our sins and taken our scourging, so we can be healed (Isa 53:5).  When we trust in Jesus and his work, Jesus would renew us. 

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for the Your lovingkindness.    Thank You for loving us in spite of our failures.  You withhold the punishment that we deserve and graciously give us what we have not earned. In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

April 29, 2010

A Life of Futility

Filed under: Devotion in Genesis — Tags: , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 9:48 pm

Genesis 19:1-38

 

 

No matter what we pursue in life, no one wants futility.  But what do we have to do to avoid that?  The story of Lot in Sodom offers us a great lesson of pursuing a life of futility.

 

Commentary:

Genesis 19:1. People who sat at the gate had some significance in the time of Abraham.  They were businessmen or elders.  They were there either to do business with other men or to judge matter.  The statue of Lot probably had grown since Abraham delivered the city of Sodom and her king from their enemies.

 Genesis 19:4. Here the Scripture uses the merism to describe the extent of the sin of Sodom. It was not an individual or a group of men but a whole city of men committing the sin.  The law obviously allowed this homosexual behavior. 

Genesis 19:7-8. Lot probably did not realize it but he had bought the sinful values of Sodom.  His values were no longer aligned with that of his uncle but of the Sodomites.  He called those vile sinners his brothers.  Following the customs of the Middle Eastern people, Lot wanted to protect his guests.  But screwed up in his values, he offered his virgin daughters for those men to spare his guests. 

Genesis 19:12. Lot showed hospitality to the two strangers.  In so doing, he unknowingly entertained angels and saved his own household.  The angels would spare he and his household from the impending destruction.

Genesis 19:26. The commandment from God is not to be taken lightly.  Lot’s wife did not heed the commandment.  She was destroyed in the process. 

Genesis 19:31. The sinful life of Sodom permeated and changed the moral values of the daughters.  In the interest of living for this world, the daughters made having offspring the first priority.  They committed incest with their father to bear children. 

 

Meditation:

Lot had worked hard to be integrated into the city of Sodom.  He had finally become not just a citizen but someone significant in the city.  He was honored to sit in the city gate.  But what did he give up to get to that position?  And what did he get in return?

Lot had given up priceless values for civilization of the world.  He lost the moral compass.  He comingled with what Sodomites practiced and accepted their worldly values.  In so doing, Lot lost his family.  He lost his wife when she loved Sodom more than life.  He lost his daughters to the values of living for this world only; they became his wives. 

Lot did not get anything in return.  In the end, he was rejected by the Sodomites.  The riches he built went up in smoke along with Sodom.  The traumatic experience also caused him to become a cave dweller. 

We certainly recognize that Lot’s futility in pursuing Sodom now.  What does that mean in our life?  In applying this lesson in our life, we have to ask ourselves what Biblical values we are throwing away for the worldly values.  These values are not necessary bad, i.e. education, success, wealth, fame, popularity, health, and happiness.  But making them vital and first before God, His word, and His way will always yield a futile life.  Instead we should pursue the heavenly things, which is incorruptible and the real treasure. 

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for the reminder of the futility of living for this world.  We pray that we can live according to Your values, Your way, and Your word.  We pray that we can lay up treasures in heavens.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

April 28, 2010

The Word Know

Filed under: Devotion in Genesis — Tags: , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 9:43 pm

Genesis 18:16-33

 

 

This passage touches on the word know. 

 

Commentary:

Genesis 18:19. The word “chosen” is [dy in Hebrew.  It means to know.  It is the same word that is used for Adam knowing his wife in Gen 4:1.  It root word is used in the tree of the “knowledge” of good and evil in Gen 2:17. The same word in imperfect tense is used in v. 21.

What was God saying in this phrase “for I know him?”  The word conveys a firsthand experience that God had on Abraham.  God had walked with Abraham in the last 24 years.   God was saying that this personal relationship would not be in vain.  Abraham would follow the commands of God and teach his children to follow God’s ways. 

How is the word “know” can also be understood as “have chosen?” The reason is that God was the initiator of the relationship.  He called Abraham out from Ur.  In that regard, God really had chosen Abraham (Neh 9:7). 

Just because God had chosen Abraham does not mean the promises were unconditional.  The promises from God to Abraham would occur only if the children of Abraham followed God in keeping righteousness and justice.  In other words, the obedience of men is needed to complete the blessings. 

Genesis 18:21. Students of the Bible may wonder why God did not know about the sin of Sodom.  Is God not omniscience?  Again, the word here is the same Hebrew word, [dy, which implies to experience it.  Up to this point, there is not any mentioning of homosexual sins in the Bible.  Homosexual sin is unique because its sexual desire disregards the physical functions of men and women and potentially can affect everyone in a society.   But the full extent of its wickedness is not known.  God certainly knows all things, but we do not.  He chose to send angels to show the depravity of homosexual sin through real life experience. 

 

Meditation:

Do we know God?  I mean do we have a personal experience with God?  The Bible says that no one can know God unless he is born of God (1John 4:7). To be born of God is to be born again.  Therefore, it is impossible to be born again and to have no relationship with God. 

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for knowing us.  We pray that we get to know you daily.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

April 27, 2010

Two Characteristics of Hospitality

Filed under: Devotion in Genesis — Tags: , , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 1:20 pm

Genesis 18:1-15

 

 

Hospitality is an important practice of Middle East.  It is also one of the virtues that Christians develop.  It is mentioned in Heb 13:2 that we “do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”  Apostle Peter also admonishes us to “be hospitable to one another without complaint”   (1 Pet 4:9).

What does hospitality look like?  It is hard to practice something that you have not experienced firsthand yourself.  Fortunately for us, today’s passage offers us a glimpse of the characteristics of hospitality.

 

Commentary:

Genesis 18:1-2. At noon or slightly after, three men came to Abraham.  These three men were not the three persons of the Trinity.  This was evident because the two of the three persons that went Sodom said they were sent by the LORD (19:13).

Abraham displayed two important characters of hospitality for believers to emulate.  He was very humble toward them.  He would bow down to the ground to greet the LROD.  Abraham was ardent.  Every action that he took was with haste. He would run in the heat of the day. 

Genesis 18:3-5. Abraham entreated them to stay.  He told them what hospitality he would give them.

Genesis 18:6-8. Abraham had his own wife preparing the cakes; he picked the calf himself.  While the three were eating, he stood by them and waited on them. 

Genesis 18:9-15. God repeated the promise to give a son to Abraham through Sarah. This time Sarah heard it firsthand and reacted with laughter of amusement.

 

Meditation:

Seeing the humble attitude that Abraham displayed toward his guests, I said to myself this is a very high standard to emulate.  Nevertheless, humbleness is the first step of hospitality.  It is not when the guests display appropriate behavior, and then we become humble.  We would be humble regardless what guests do.  Sometimes, humbleness requires us to do things out of our inconvenience.  Other times, it teaches us to look past certain flaw of others. 

The second part about the enthusiastic attitude is crucial.  A lot of time we host guests out of obligation. But in this case of hospitality, I’m not convinced that effort alone is enough.  The guests may have a sleeping quarter but do not feel at home.  The guests may have food on the table but have a hard time swallowing.  Giving your warmth and love is crucial in treating guests?

What would you do about practicing hospitality’s in your life at this time?

Where do we practice hospitality? Surely it is more likely for strangers to come to our church than to our home.  Church is a perfect place to show hospitality.  Make the guests feel at home.  Be humble; be the first one to talk to the newcomer.  Be warmth, make the person feel welcomed. 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for showing us the model of hospitality by father Abraham. Help us to be humble and enthusiastic toward our guests.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

April 26, 2010

The Walk of Faith (3)

Filed under: Devotion in Genesis — Tags: , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 8:00 am

Genesis 17:15-27

 

 

In the movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”, Harrison Ford has to cross a bridge to reach the Holy Grail.  Where there is supposedly a bridge is visibly nothing but cliff.  He is really scared.  At that moment, he remembers to walk by faith and not by sight.  As he takes a step forward toward the cliff, he lands on the invisible bridge. 

The walk of faith can be counter reason.  Today’s passage is a great reminder of that. 

 

Commentary:

When God specifically told Abraham that Sarai would bear a son, Abraham cannot help but laughed.  This was not laughter of joy but rather of amusement.  Abraham just could not believe that for good rationale.  By now, Sarah’s womb was considered medically dead; she had no chance of conception.  Therefore, Abraham told God that his hope remained in Ishmael.  God distinctively rejected it and made the covenant to be with Issac, which means “he laughs.”

 

Meditation:

There would be times that we cannot believe what God wants to accomplish through us.  They just don’t seem reasonable to us.  Some people would laugh it off. Others would ignore it.

The story of Abraham here teaches us that faith is not practiced by logical deduction.  By common sense, Sarah should not conceive.  When the menstrual period stops, the womb dries out.  Women are also born with a certain number of eggs.  Eggs do not get reproduced; once they got used up, there are no more.  Sarah had no medical reason to conceive.  Yet by definition, miracle is beyond reasons.  God miraculously work in Sarah to bring about the pregnancy.  While man works within boundaries of scientific laws, God can work outside of the laws.

What God promises us something or shows a vision, do we laugh about it?  We need to have faith.  We need to believe despite there is no reason to support that vision. 

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for making Your will known to us.  Help us walk by faith and not by sight.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

April 25, 2010

The Walk of Faith (2)

Filed under: Devotion in Genesis — Tags: , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 8:09 am

Genesis 17:9-14

 

 

 In the movie “Fire Proof”, Captain Caleb Holt (played by Kirk Cameron) encounters the love of God and commits his life to Jesus Christ.  He decides to turn his life around and change. He quits his porn addiction.  He focuses on the needs of others.  In his effort of change, he is met with suspicion and scorn.  Yet he persists without fully knowing the result.  He only knows that this is what the new life in Jesus requires of him.  The walk of faith is like that.  We have a change of heart, so we become a new man in Christ.  Today’s passage touches on this aspect of the change of heart in the OT language. 

 

Commentary:

God asked Abraham to perform circumcision for every male in his household and himself.  This would be a sign that they were covenant partners with God.  Although circumcision had been practiced in the ancient Near East, no nation had made it a part of requirement for her people. What Abraham did was something entirely new.  All Jewish males would be circumcised; any uncircumcised males would be expunged from the nation. 

Circumcision in that regard is an act to declare allegiance to God.  It is an outward sign that the Jewish people belonged to God.  Since the foreskin cannot grow back, it is also a permanent loyalty.  Today’s believers follow the essence of circumcision.  But instead of physical circumcision, we are circumcised in the heart. We become righteousness by faith.  We are cleansed by the blood of Jesus.  Furthermore, we become spiritual sons and daughters of Abraham.  We pledge our allegiance to God through our death and rebirth of the baptism. 

Circumcision is also a representation to be separated from the world.  Circumcision serves as a daily physical reminder to the Jews that they no longer belong to the world.  The walk of faith for Christian is similar.  The walk of faith needs to be shown in the flesh.  It is the body that goes to either good or evil places.  It is the body that would sin against God or glorify God.  Our circumcision of the heart reminds us to stay away from sin.  Having been saved, we do not go around sinful places or people to test our new found “invincibility.”  Instead, we would separate ourselves from the world.  Our reason to engage the world is to tell them about the gospel. 

 

Meditation:

This circumcision of the heart is what Captain Caleb Holt encountered.  If we have that genuine faith, we too will walk in the newness of life. We will strive to do the right things.  We will pledge our loyalty to God and separate ourselves from the world.

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that all believers have the circumcision of the heart.  We pray that we will pursue you and stay away from the lust of the eye and the flesh and the boastful pride of this life.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

April 24, 2010

The Walk of Faith (1)

Filed under: Devotion in Genesis — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 8:00 am

Genesis 17:1-8

 

 

What is faith?  Some people see it as a one-time decision to believe what Jesus had done on the cross. Someone are even very trouble if people ever bring up the subject of living like a Christian.  They will contend that faith saves no matter what.  I think today’s passage offers a close look of what genuine faith looks like from Abraham, the father of faith. 

 

Commentary:

I have a number of thoughts about this passage.  Let’s go through some observations.  God gave a new covenant and summarized the other covenants that he had with Abraham.  The new covenant was that Abraham would be the father of many nations.  His name will be changed from Abram to Abraham.  The name Abram means exalted father, which might have to do with his royal lineage.  The name Abraham means the father of many nations.  God repeated His covenants to bless Abraham with numerous descendents and to give the land of Canaan to his descendents.

There are two fold meanings in the name change.  Firstly, God wanted Abraham to dwell not in the past but to live in the future.  In the Middle East, the name has significance.  By the name of a person, his friends can recognize his value or his characters.  The name change would help Abraham’s friends recognize his goal and his aspiration.  Secondly, the name change required a major walk of faith. Abraham had only one son at this time. Thirteen years had passed since the birth of Ishmael.  It was not likely that he would have another one anytime soon.  The chances of him becoming the father of many nations were almost next to nil.  So to go out to tell others of his new name from God required strong faith. 

Nevertheless, having that strong faith was why God reckoned Abraham righteous.  As James put it, faith is always accompanied by deeds.  So in verse one, God told Abraham to “walk before Me and be blameless.”  Faith and work go hand-in-hand. 

Finally, this passage records the fourth time that God appeared Abraham.  The first time was when Abraham was 75 years old.  His father was 145 and still alive when he left.  The second time was shortly after Abraham arrived in Canaan.  The third time was after Abraham defeated the kings from the east.  His age was uncertain but most likely 85 years old.  The fourth time was this event.  The first and the second appearances should be viewed as one because they were very close in proximity in time and in nature.  In the average, God appeared to Abraham every 12 years. 

 

Meditation:

To this day and age, God still appears to people like He did to Abraham.  Reading the biographies of spiritual giants, I recognize that what we have now is not much different from what Abraham got.  I experienced the vision of God myself.  I am convinced that God still answers people who seek Him. 

Seeking God is a daily exercise.  We begin daily with the thought of what is important to God.  The activities of meditation, prayer, and scripture reading are rooted in the motivation to pursue the will of God. Write down the thoughts or revelations from these activities and make plans and to-do list to achieve them. 

In addition to the motivation, we will renew our mind with what pleases God.  Make our emotion and our desires like Jesus.  Let what Jesus would do to please His Father becomes our wish in our daily living.

Faith has to be alive in us.  It’s not a onetime decision without repercussion.  That decision should transform us inside out. 

Walking blameless is then a natural out flowing of that faith.  If we do not walk in faith, we should become troublesome ourselves about what is happening in us.  If people come and remind us to be more like Jesus, we should thank them. 

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the model of Abraham.  We pray that we would seek You daily in our mind.  Let our mind be renewed daily.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

April 23, 2010

The Reflective Questions

Filed under: Devotion in Genesis — Tags: , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 9:11 am

Genesis 16:7-16

 

 

In the movie “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” Edmund could not stand his brother and ran away.  He almost did something awful in his anger. I am sure we all had moments when we, in our pain, could have done tremendous harm to either ourselves or others.  Today’s passage is a great reminder what a little contemplation can do. 

 

Commentary:

Genesis 16:7-9 Hagar would rather die than to continue to suffer at the hand of Sarai.  She ran away without any preparation.  The angel of the LORD found her and asked her two reflective questions.  He wanted her to know where she was from and where she was going.  Hagar could only answer the first question.  She had no idea where she would go.  Upon her discovery of having nowhere to go, the angel of the LORD told her to go back and to submit herself to the authority of Sarai.

Genesis 16:11-14. The name Ishmael means God hears.  The name of the well means that “the well of the Living One who sees me.” Hagar assumed that the angel of the LORD as the LORD.  It is not necessary the same. 

Genesis 16:15. It was unusual that a mother could name her child in the time of Abram.  So that means Abram knew and believed about the appearance of the angel to Hagar.

 

Meditation:

 

We can be like Edmund in “The Chronicle’s of the Narnia” or Hagar in this passage.  We can let our emotions get the best of us.  The problem is that we would not have the angel of the LORD to ask us those critical questions.  Actually the statement is not true. Every believer has the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In the time of anger, pain, or loneliness, we do not have to react.  We can spend time in prayer.  Let the Holy Spirit asks us questions.  The Holy Spirit will teach and guide us.

While we are in the subject of reflective questions, I want to talk about the three important reflective questions in life.  They are: Where was I from?  Where would I go?  And where am I now?  They will help us find meaning in life.

If you have some trouble answering them, you will find helps in the word of God.

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the Bible.  We pray that we would find meaning in life through knowing you.  We also pray for our family and friends who do not know you can come to believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

April 22, 2010

Who Do We Listen To?

Filed under: Devotion in Genesis — Tags: , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 6:02 pm

Genesis 16:1-6

 

 

History tends to repeat itself.  Adam’s sin was his choosing to listen to his wife, instead of preventing himself from the fall by choosing God.  Today’s passage is the story of how Abraham repeated the mistake made by Adam. 

 

Commentary:

Genesis 16:2. The phrase “listened to the voice” is a repeat of what is in verse 3:17, where God said to Adam that he had listened to the voice of his wife.  Here Abraham made the same mistake of listening to someone else instead of God.  The choice that Adam made caused the whole human race to experience evil in the state of separation from God.  The choice that Abram made created Arab nations dedicated to destroy the Jews.  Both choices were rooted in the mistake of listening to the voice of anyone other than God.  

Nevertheless, what Sarai and Abram did was consistent with the culture of their day.  Yet God certainly had in mind that marriage was between one man and one woman.  Therefore, He would bless the seed from Sarai.  This pattern was repeated in the generation of Judah.  He was chosen to be heir of the blessing because his mother Leah was the first wife of Jacob. 

Genesis 16:3-4. Sarai was determined to follow the culture.  She initiated the action of giving Hagar to Abraham.   What followed was a natural human emotion. After being pregnant, Hagar began to have a sense of superiority over her mistress.  The servant despised the master because she could do what the master could not do. 

Genesis 16:5. Sarai complained bitterly to Abram as if he had something to do with her predicament.  She wished that Abraham would also be despised by Hagar.  Of course, that would not likely happen anytime soon.

Genesis 16:6. Abraham cared more about his wife than the baby that could possibly be his heir.  He chose to let Sarai deal with Hagar freely.  The word harshly described a severe punishment.  This had to be the case; otherwise no pregnant woman would run into the desert without much protection.

 

Meditation:

Do we listen to some loved ones in our life like Adam or Abram did?  I mean if we follow their actions out of love even though we know it is wrong.  I certainly can recall some teenagers doing things that they knew were wrong just because their friends were doing it.  I also know some adults doing the wrong things because they listened to the ones they love.

In addition to loved ones, we can be influenced by our culture.  Sarai certainly followed the world instead of God in the pursuit of having a son.  Do we obey the world or God?  What dominates your leisure time is probably the master of your life.  

We need to pay close attention to the consequences of Adam and Abram.  None of us wishes to make their wrong choices.  Yet our choices indeed change our life and the life of our decedents.  We need to desire God instead of the world or our loved ones.  That desire needs to be followed by our resolve.  From this day, will you make reading and listening to the Bible the first priority in your life?  If you do, you will be most blessed. 

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the Bible.  We pray that the Holy Ghost would guide us in knowing Your will and applying it in our life.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

April 21, 2010

The Unilateral Covenant

Filed under: Devotion in Genesis — Tags: , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 4:44 pm

Genesis 15:13-21

 

 

There are times God made promises.  And then there are times God made covenants.  What are the differences?  We can probably recognize that promises do not require us to do anything and that covenants most likely require some work on our part.  By and large this is correct.  But there are incidences where covenants are unilateral.  Today’s passage is one of them. 

 

Commentary:

Genesis 15:13-14. The prophecy of the sojourn of Israelites in Egypt has five parts: Their identity in the land, how they would be treated, when they would leave, their manner of leaving, and God’s judgment on the Egyptians.

What does it mean for the Jews to keep their identity for 400 years? In order to do that, they had to maintain their worship, culture, language, and customs distinct from the Egyptians.  This would also be a major reason for why they would be considered as strangers in Egypt.  For being the Israelites, meaning a people prevailing with God, they were oppressed by the Egyptians. 

Genesis 15:15. Unlike his descendents, Abraham would not have to go to Egypt.

Genesis 15:16. The reason for the sojourning is about the timing to levy judgment against the Canaanites. 

Genesis 15:17-21. The covenant was made by God alone.  Only God has walked between the halved animals.  God would fulfill it unilaterally.  No failure of the Israelites could stop them from occupying the land after the sojourning in Egypt. 

 

Meditation:

When a covenant is made unilaterally, it is like a promise.  God intends to fulfill it.  There are many unilateral covenants in the Bible.  They all show how much our God loves us. 

The giving of His son Jesus Christ is a unilateral covenant of God.  God is willing to give us His Son despite our failures.  That is why John 3:16 said for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.  We do not have to do anything in order for God to send us His Son.  It is entirely rooted in the love of God. Man can respond to this love with two choices: accept it or reject it.  There’s not any work we can do to enter into this covenant.  No there is any standing we need to be in.  We come as we are without one plea.  We can either take it or leave it.  What is your choice?

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us and giving us the grace.  We don’t deserve it and we cannot earn it. So thank You that we only have to trust in Jesus to obtain the salvation.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

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