Posted on

Dust of the earth

Genesis 13:16 (AMP) I will make your descendants [as numerous] as the dust of the earth, so that if a man could count the [grains of] dust of the earth, then your descendants could also be counted.

I do not know about you, but that sounds like a world vision to me. As numerous as the dust of the earth. God did not say just one part of the earth or territory. He was talking big. I was reading Joshua the other day and I got to the part that Caleb (one of the only two original survivors to come out of Egypt) was getting his land inheritance. I was intrigued by where he requested and I remembered something.

Joshua 14:11-14 (NIV)  I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.” Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.

I remembered reading about Hebron when I was in Genesis last month. So I looked up where I had read it before and it was in Genesis 13. Right after God gave this revelation to Abraham, Abraham settled in Hebron and made an altar (he and Sarah are buried there). This occurred after Lot and he separated. Originally, God told Abraham to leave his family and go to a certain land. Abraham left, but took his nephew, Lot. They had to separate because of land and resources for their livestock, so Abraham settled elsewhere. God spoke to Abraham about his descendants being as numerous as the dust of the earth. Abraham made an altar (his second one) in Hebron.

I looked up the meaning of Hebron. It means community, an alliance, also united. Now we can make this personal and say that God united with Abraham and that is what Hebron is about. However, God talked about Abraham’s descendants. This was not just about Abraham, even though it started with him. I believe God had His Son on His mind when He told Abraham about his descendants. When Matthew recorded the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1, he started with Abraham and also made note that Jesus is a descendant of King David. Check out where David was anointed king (another time after Samuel did) and eventually ruled for nearly seven years.

2 Samuel 5:3 (AMP) So all the elders (tribal leaders) of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord; and they anointed him king over Israel.

1 Chronicles 12:38 (MEV) All these made up the men of war, arranged in ranks, who came to Hebron with a sincere heart to make David king over all Israel, along with the all the rest of Israel who with one heart came to make David king.

Hebron was nothing of significance in the New Testament, but I can see why. Jesus fulfilled what God told Abraham that day. Look at Galatians 3:29 (AMP), “And if you belong to Christ [if you are in Him], then you are Abraham’s descendants, and [spiritual] heirs according to [God’s] promise.” There is significance in us being one of his descendants, and it is not a selfish one.

Ephesians 2:19-22 (AMP) So then you are no longer strangers and aliens [outsiders without rights of citizenship], but you are fellow citizens with the saints (God’s people), and are [members] of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the [chief] Cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together, and it continues [to increase] growing into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, set apart, and sacred to the presence of the Lord]. In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Look at the big picture. That is what God was telling Abraham that day. Do not just look at the fact that we are citizens of heaven and, that we have the inheritance of Abraham. Stop fussing about titles and leaders in the church, it is all a distraction from the bigger picture. Look at what God said, and in the place He said it. As numerous as the dust of the earth in a location that literally means community. We are to be joined together. Unity of His people from the descendants of the faith of Abraham. Abraham trusted God and was referred to as His friend. We have to come together. We need community. In a community we care for one another and support one another. It was about us. I am one of those dust pieces. I am not insignificant, I am needed in the body of Christ and so are you.

Abba, our Father, our Good Shepherd, You are so Wonderful and Amazing. You are so Holy. Thank You for Your Son, the fulfillment of Love. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit, the Teacher and Comforter. Thank You for Your Word, Your full Word, so that we can know You more. Thank You for the fullness of who You are. Thank You for Your Mercy and Loving kindness. You had us in mind from the very beginning. We repent for not seeing community as significant. We repent for trying to go at life apart from Your body. Thank You for being the same God and never changing. Thank You for the patience for us to see the bigger picture as revealed by Your Holy Spirit. We see now that You desired us united even from the beginning. We are Your workmanship and we are being built up TOGETHER for Your glory. We choose forgiveness today. We choose joy today. We choose hope today. We choose love today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Posted on

The Best

Genesis 12:2 (AMP) And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you [abundantly], and make your name great (exalted, distinguished); and you shall be a blessing [a source of great good to others]

Have you ever prayed this prayer? Some may ask, what reason do we pray this? Galatians 3:29 says, “And if you belong to Christ [if you are in Him], then you are Abraham’s descendants, and [spiritual] heirs according to [God’s] promise.” This is why you will hear the affirmations of the promises to Abraham. There are more, but I wanted to point this one part out, it was for a purpose of being a source of blessing to others. If I have this prayer and I am not others focused, as to why I desire greatness in my life, then I have become self centered. God never intended us to point to self. So whose kingdom have I been building?

John 15:13 (AMP) No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends.

How about this one? 1 Peter 2:9 says we are a royal priesthood and a special people for God’s own possession. I love this affirmation, but it also has a purpose. Read the full verse: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a [special] people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Let us speak to fear for a moment. Being a blessing to others and proclaiming His love to others is an outflow of love, the opposite of fear (1 John 4:18). What? Am I saying that if I do not proclaim the Gospel, that I do not love? My question to you is why do you not want to proclaim the Gospel? Why are you trying to find excuses not to?

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (AMP) Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]. But all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ [making us acceptable to Him] and gave us the ministry of reconciliation [so that by our example we might bring others to Him]

Matthew 22:35-39 (AMP) One of them, a lawyer [an expert in Mosaic Law], asked Jesus a question, to test Him: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” And Jesus replied to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others].’

While in prayer yesterday I was focused on “The Best.” God, I just want us to be a church that sought the best to glorify you, to see the best in others, to desire the best for each other. Then my prayer went into “if I have been the focus, that is not the best. I desire to see others grow stronger in their relationship with You. If I am hindering that do a work within so that I am not the focus, whatever that my look like.” We can be prideful in our prayers, it is easy to do. It can be all about self whether we fill it with affirmations through His Word, or we become so self deprecating that do not see the value in ourselves.

I want to come back to love. When I realize my position in the love of Christ, I can start to behave that way. It will change my perspective from self, to others. Whose Kingdom am I building? I often ask that of myself. Another way is, whose Glory am I seeking? When I lead in love, I am doing it best. We should always bring the best offering when we gather in His place of worship. He gave His best when He sent His only Son. What is holding you back from seeking the best for others? Why would you not want the best, Jesus, to be revealed to others? The best is the ministry of reconciliation. He made you the best (a new creation) to bless with the best! Love others like yourself, unselfishly seek the best for others. So share His goodness and His Gospel!!

Jehovah Nissi (the Lord is my banner), You are Holy and to be admired. You set the standard of Love. You are the definition of Love. Thank You for the Love You gave with Your Only Son. Jesus is the best Love we could ever receive. Thank You for the Love gift of the Holy Spirit. We can walk in the fullness of Your Love through the revealed knowledge of Your Love. Forgive us for seeking only for ourselves. Your Love was meant to be shared. Forgive us for wanting everything and not looking out to see how our seeking has affected others from seeking as well. In our selfishness we forget our calling to the ministry of reconciliation. Forgive us for making excuses. Forgive us for not obeying. We repent for making it all about us. We desire Your Kingdom. We desire Your will be done. Thank You for seeing the best in us, even when we do not deserve it. You have called us to be a great people, so we will share of Your goodness. Give us opportunities to bless and glorify Your Name. We choose forgiveness today. We choose hope today. We choose love today. In Jesus Name, Amen.