HEY
Hey, Look at This!
Genesis 15:1 – “After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram; I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.”
As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, I felt deeply challenged. I began by reflecting on the Blessing of the Covenant with Abraham. The major focus was on others. It had a kingdom feel to it.
In Genesis 15:1, God gave Abram renewed assurance of His presence, provision, and power. Abram’s confidence in God became his foundation in trial.
In Genesis 18:9-15, I saw something that grabbed me and made me say, “Look at this.” Sarah was in the tent. If the tent represents God’s covering and presence, that is significant. In the tent, she was listening! That is the key. We need to press into God’s presence and listen. She questioned, but she heard the Rhema of God that took root and produced the Fruit of the Covenant Seed. First, get into the tent, then listen.
The flesh is easily distracted. John the Immerser (Baptist) had a divine revelation that Jesus was the MESSIAH. Then, from prison (in trial), he questioned, “Are you Him?” We must constantly reaffirm our confidence in Him and His Word. Isolated events, no matter how wonderful, are not enough. We have to keep returning to the tent.
In Matthew 15:34-39, we see the feeding of the 4,000. Jesus asked, “How many loaves do you have?” How much bread? Bread represents the Word of God. They said seven. Seven is the number of completeness. They picked up seven baskets, indicating endless supply. (Psalm 23, Psalm 91, Isaiah 61.)
In God, if we get in and stay in the tent, we can hear Him. Hearing Him, we can respond in obedience. Responding in obedience results in the endless supply. Genesis 17:1 in the Tree of Life Version is interesting. GOD said, “Continually walk (live) before Me, and you will be blameless.” Blamelessness flows out of His presence. Living our lives IN His presence provides the wisdom, revelation, strength, and anointing to be blameless. It is in the tent! God, give us some tent time!
LORD, help us be continually awed by Your presence and promises!
HEY, JUST HOW MUCH AM I TO LOVE YOU?
Mark 12:31 – “The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” NASB
Interestingly, the Greek word used here for ‘love’ is (agapao), which comes from a word that means ‘much’ and can be seen in contrast to (phileo) or brotherly love. It is a more profound love than just a casual social appreciation of someone. It was not (storge), which is a fondness through familiarity, or (philia) which is friendship, or (eros), the romantic attraction but (agape), which is unconditional love or a Godkind of love.
That being said, if everyone were to take this passage literally from a personal viewpoint of how they regard themselves, the world would be in a world of hurt because some people have anything but LOVE for themselves. Then others have nothing but LOVE for themselves.
Some have an unhealthy un-love, and some have an unhealthy love for themselves, and to love others as they love themselves would be dangerous and difficult. Yet, if we are ‘in Christ’ and His love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, we do not think higher of ourselves than we should. We can love others in a wholesome and balanced way, producing a beautiful interaction and relationship.
If we view others through the eyes of the Spirit of God and realize that they are creations of the Father, follow the Golden Rule, and truly react and respond to others like we would desire to be treated, we will find more peace than the turmoil in our relationships. We have difficulty attempting to ‘love’ others without first coming to grips with ‘who we are’ and having the ‘who we are’ settled in Christ.
I have heard people say all my life, “You have to look out for old number one,” to justify whatever they did and how they treated or took advantage of others. That is not ‘loving your neighbor as yourself’ but disregarding your neighbor for yourself. It is contrary to what Jesus called the 2nd Great Commandment of God. If we get the 1st one right, the 2nd one is easy, but until we get the 1st one right, the 2nd one is almost impossible.
I cannot love you on an equal plane with myself if I have not first learned to be comfortable with ’who I am in God.’ Only as I find myself in God and know that I can trust Him can I make myself vulnerable and ‘love you’ as I do myself. The self-defense part of our natures prevents that, and it is only as we move from the ‘survival mode’ to a life hidden with Christ in God can we move out of our inner sanctuary of self-protection and LOVE biblically.
May God be with you as you go through this day!
