Half-Hearted Commitment
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Against All Odds
Learning to Yield
" 'Look how far you have fallen from your first love! Turn back to me again and work as you did at first. . . .' "
At first glance, you might think that Abraham and his nephew Lot both were spiritual men. But a closer examination reveals that this was not the case. You see, Abraham lived for God. Lot, on the other hand, lived for himself. Abraham walked in the Spirit. Lot walked in the flesh. Abraham lived by faith. Lot lived by sight. And most significantly, Abraham walked with God, and Lot walked with Abraham.
Unfortunately, because of Lot's half-hearted commitment to the Lord, he was becoming a spiritual drain on Abraham. The relationship they had was pulling Abraham down. That is why, earlier in Genesis, God said to Abraham, "Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's house, and go to the land that I will show you" (Genesis 12:1).
But Abraham was reluctant to part ways with Lot. Then, when a famine came, Abraham actually went down to Egypt. It was a definite step backward. But Abraham eventually came to his senses and realized he was in a backslidden state. He decided to return to God and to the place where He had called him.
Sadly for Abraham, he reaped in the years ahead the results of that wrong choice. It was in Egypt that a woman named Hagar became Sarah's servant. Abraham ended up having a child with Hagar. The child's name was Ishmael, and conflicts between his descendents and the descendents of Isaac continue to this very day.
Have ungodly influences been wearing you down lately? Has a certain relationship or pursuit become a spiritual drain in your life? Have you been compromising? Then make a change. It isn't too late.
Unfortunately, because of Lot's half-hearted commitment to the Lord, he was becoming a spiritual drain on Abraham. The relationship they had was pulling Abraham down. That is why, earlier in Genesis, God said to Abraham, "Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's house, and go to the land that I will show you" (Genesis 12:1).
But Abraham was reluctant to part ways with Lot. Then, when a famine came, Abraham actually went down to Egypt. It was a definite step backward. But Abraham eventually came to his senses and realized he was in a backslidden state. He decided to return to God and to the place where He had called him.
Sadly for Abraham, he reaped in the years ahead the results of that wrong choice. It was in Egypt that a woman named Hagar became Sarah's servant. Abraham ended up having a child with Hagar. The child's name was Ishmael, and conflicts between his descendents and the descendents of Isaac continue to this very day.
Have ungodly influences been wearing you down lately? Has a certain relationship or pursuit become a spiritual drain in your life? Have you been compromising? Then make a change. It isn't too late.
Copyright © 2003 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version.
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights
reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced
in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas
Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000
Against All Odds
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