Devotional - July 23, 2025
Scripture: Genesis 18:1 The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day.
There he sits in the entrance of his tent, feeling the heat, as the sun begins to broil. His mind is elsewhere. He is a blessed man and he knows it. In so many ways, God has been good to him. Does he deserve it, no. He has botched and fumbled so many things that the word failure comes to mind. Maybe that is why God has left him. It's been a long time since God has talked with him. And honestly, Abraham wouldn't blame God if God did leave. He was so fixated on life being a certain way, he did not want to listen to anything else. Yes, God blessed him with what he needed, but... Unfortunately, everything got all tangled up. And so here he is, when most people would be lounging or resting, he sits lost in thought. I hope this devotional does not find you in such a state. God gives us this narrative so we know, when we feel like this, God is still with us. Abraham may be thinking and feeling miserable about his situation, but we the reader know better. Do we know better when it comes to our own lives? How easy it is to get lost in our imperfection, our humanity. Rather than trying to find our way out, because there really isn't such a route. Maybe the best route is to rise above. Remember that God loves you and will remain faithful to you (Lamentations 3:22-23 ...and you don't have to wait until morning ; ). Remember, God's focus and yours may not be the same. Abraham wanted a son. God was using Abraham to establish the people of God that would continue long past Abraham's day, and long past ours too. God uses all of us in ways we know and ways we do not (Isaiah 55: 8-9) to accomplish this task. Yes, even when you fumble and struggle. So take heart and press on (Psalm 42). And, whatever you do, do not sit idly by because you think it's over. Because, you regret what you did or did not do, or accomplish. You feel you failed because you do not measure up to what the world or even you expected. Rise above such meddlings, they are delusions. Abraham and Sarah did. They continued to fumble and struggle, but they continued onward and so can we. How loving God must be to love us, even us, and claim us fully in all our humanity as the people of God through Jesus Christ.
Pray with me..., Holy God we give thanks that You continue on with us even when we feel lost or not understood. Quicken our faith, help us to see as You amidst all we are going through. Hear us, as we pray and ask Your blessing on our loved ones. Hear us as we pray for our church. We ask for Your blessing, so we can be the blessing You call us to be, in Jesus name, Amen.
God's peace,
Pastor Brian
