Month: July 2016

Faithful to Every Generation

By Michael Himbeault (https://www.flickr.com/photos/riebart/4653728769)

[CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons

As you read these chapters, did you catch the passing of the promise from one generation to the next and then to the next one after that?

Last week you read in Chapter 12 God making a covenant with Abram promising land and descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. Today, you read that the same covenant was passed along to Abram’s son, Isaac (in Chapter 26) and then again to Isaac’s son, Jacob (in Chapter 28).

The crazy thing is that none of these Biblical Patriarchs lived to see the fulfillment of God’s promise. But that didn’t stop them from living an obedient life and expecting the promises to come to fruition at some point.

So what does this mean to us, so many generations later?

1. God has a plan and this plan will prevail.
2. Just because we don’t know the details of the plan, doesn’t mean that He is not trustworthy.
3. We are called to be obedient when God recruits us to be part of the plan.
4. God’s timing is often much different than what we can possibly understand…so resist developing your personal agenda in the meantime.

So whether we are waiting on the coming Kingdom, or waiting for God to answer prayers for peace, healing, restoring a relationship, providing direction for what steps to take next in a major decision, or something else you’re wrestling with, firmly believe that God is faithful in His promises.

Many Blessings,

-bethany ligon
Bethany Ligon is super excited to be involved with this year long Bible reading plan. She has been part of FUEL since she started attending (before it was known as FUEL) in 1987, only missing a few years here and there. When not acting as one of the FUEL Directors, she is a Technology Integration Facilitator (fancy term for working with teachers)  in her local school district. She is married to Daryl, has an awesome niece, Whitney, and loves to eat tortilla chips and salsa. Go ahead and follow her on Instagram/Twitter/Snapchat @bethanyligon.   

Whose Birthright is Whose?

I’m the oldest of 3 brothers. I know the negotiating that can happen between siblings. Sometimes it’s fair, sometimes it’s not. The story of Jacob & Esau is an interesting story of brotherly negotiation. There was a clear winner & loser. Esau made a bad trade. He gave up his birthright for a bowl of soup. That’s doesn’t seem like a big deal to us, but I read the following explanation that gives us some clarity.

A birthright was a special privilege given to the oldest son. The child who had the birthright received the blessing of the father as well as all the father had built and accomplished. In the case of Esau and Jacob, it was more than gaining dad’s money, it was about receiving God’s special blessing.

Today you have the opportunity to receive the birthright that God intended for Jesus. Jesus is both the only Son of God and the firstborn of God. By having a relationship with Jesus, you can share in the blessings intended for Him. The Bible says: “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. … Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ…” (Romans 8:14,17). Congratulations!

— Seth Ross

What is Your Highest Priority?

In Genesis 22, God tested Abraham’s faith in a serious way by asking him to sacrifice his own son. It’s a story that foreshadows what God did for us by sacrificing His son for us. It’s a powerful image, even if it’s difficult to comprehend. While none of us will likely be asked to make that same choice, God does call us to make sacrifices for him. I like how this author asked the question…
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God tested Abraham’s faith and in doing so pushed him into an uncomfortable situation. What is something or someone you love more than anything else? Mentally insert the answer in the blank space below.

“For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld __________ from Me.”

Would this be true of you if God asked you to make a sacrifice? Yes or No? If no, what might you need to consider in order for God to have the highest priority in your life?

— Seth Ross

Trust – and Obey!

Today’s chapters contain 3 really odd stories… the covenant of circumcision, a 90-year old woman being told she’d have a child, and Sodom & Gomorrah. While the details of the stories are very different, an important theme emerges. God expects obedience, and obedience results in blessing. Disobedience comes with consequences, either immediate or delayed.

That’s probably not new information. The part we often overlook is what makes obedience possible. Think about people in your life that your expected to obey. I’d guess you feel some are easier to obey than others. What’s the difference? I suggest the key is TRUST. When you trust someone, it’s easier to obey them. Why? You know they have your best interest in mind.

God loves you more than anyone on this planet will ever love you. And so he has your best interest in mind… all the time. Every time. Even when He asks us to do things that seem out of step with our culture, that seem old-fashioned, that seem archaic. It can be difficult to obey God in our sexuality, relationships, language, behavior, ethics, morality. Why? Probably because we don’t really trust God. We might think He doesn’t really know what He’s talking about. But he does, and internally we all know that. Even if we don’t like it.

So… do you trust God? Do you believe He wants the best for you? If that’s true, then obeying Him is easier (even if it’s not easy). And if you’ve had a difficult time obeying… maybe the best place to begin is learning to trust God.

— Seth Ross

Are you ready?  

When I think about Abraham, I often think about God’s promises (covenant) to him. But Abraham is worth considering as a person too. I read the following thoughts written about him…

Confident in His Covenants

Following the flood, God made a promise to Noah that he would never again destroy the world with water. This promise is referred to as a covenant. A covenant is an oath or a promise made by God that He will keep regardless of our actions or belief. He’s made several significant promises (or covenants) through history. He made a covenant with Abraham that he would be the father of a nation. Abraham’s descendants became known as the nation of Israel. Later he made a covenant with King David that the Messiah would be born from his lineage. When Jesus was born, New Testament writers make sure to point out that his family line could be traced back to David.
As you read the Bible, you can always look to God’s covenants with confidence that He will keep His promises. He always has. He always will. God can be trusted to do what He says.

— Seth Ross