Day 18 of the 3rd Bible Study Journey - 18 January 2023 reflections
Day 18, 18 Jan 2022
1)
Genesis 19-21, 1 Chron 1:28
Gen 19 - 21
GENESIS 19
Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed
1 Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting
at the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them he rose up to meet them, and he
bowed himself with his face toward the ground.
2 Then he said, "Here, my lords, please turn in to your servant's house
and spend the night and wash your feet; and then you may rise early
and go on your way."
They said, "No, we will stay in the open square all night."
3 But he strongly insisted, so they turned aside with him
and entered his house. Then he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread,
and they ate. 4 Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom,
both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house.
5 They then called to Lot and said to him, "Where are the men
who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us,
so that we may have relations with them."
6 So Lot went out through the door to them and shut the door behind him.
7 Then he said, "Please, my brothers, do not act so wickedly.
8 Look, I have two daughters who have not been with a man.
Please, let me bring them out to you,
and you may do to them as you wish.
Only do nothing to these men,
for they have come under the shelter of my roof."
9 But they replied, "Stand back!" Also, they said,
"This man came here as an alien, and he keeps acting like a judge.
We will deal worse with you than with them."
So they pressed hard against Lot, and came close to breaking down the door.
10 But the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house
with them and shut the door.
11 Then they struck the men that were at the door of the house,
both small and great, with blindness so that they wore themselves
out groping for the door.
12 Then the men said to Lot,
"Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone
you have in the city, take them out of this place!
13 For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against
its people has grown great before the presence of the Lord,
and the Lord has sent us to destroy it."
14 So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law,
who had married his daughters,
and said, "Get up, get out of this place,
for the Lord will destroy this city!" But to his sons-in-law
he seemed to be joking.
15 When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying,
"Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here.
Otherwise you will be consumed in the punishment of the city."
16 And while he lingered, the men took hold of his and his wife's hands,
along with the hands of his two daughters,
the Lord being merciful to him,
and brought him out and set him outside the city.
17 When they had brought them out, one of them said to them,
"Escape for your lives! Do not look behind you or stay anywhere in the plain.
Escape to the mountain, lest you be destroyed."
18Then Lot said to them, "Please, no, my lords!
19 Your servant has found grace in your eyes, and you have shown your mercy,
which you have shown to me by saving my life. However, I cannot escape to
the mountain. Otherwise some evil will overtake me, and I will die.
20 Look, this city is close enough to flee to, and it is a little one.
Please, let me escape there (is it not a little one?),
and my life will be saved."
21 He said to him, "I have granted your request in this matter also.
I will not overthrow this city of which you have spoken.
22 Hurry, escape there, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there."
Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
23 The sun had risen over the land when Lot entered Zoar.
24 Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah.
It was from the Lord out of heaven.
25 So He overthrew those cities, all the valley,
all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.
26 But his wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
27 Now Abraham got up early in the morning and
went to the place where he stood before the Lord.
28 Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah,
and toward all the land of the valley,
and he saw the smoke of the land going up like the smoke of a furnace.
29 So it was that when God destroyed the cities of the valley,
God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the middle of the destruction,
when He overthrew the cities in which Lot lived.
Lot and His Daughters
30 Then Lot left Zoar, and lived in the mountains,
along with his two daughters who were with him,
for he was afraid to dwell in Zoar.
He and his two daughters lived in a cave.
31 And the firstborn said to the younger,
"Our father is old, and there is no man on the earth to have relations
with us after the manner of all the earth. 32 Let us make our father
drink wine and let us lie with him,
so that we may preserve the lineage of our father."
33 So they made their father drink wine that night,
and the firstborn went in and had relations with her father.
He did not know when she lay down or when she arose.
34 On the next day the firstborn said to the younger,
"Indeed, last night I had relations with my father.
Let us make him drink wine tonight also,
so that you may go in and have relations with him,
so that we may preserve the lineage of our father."
35 So they made their father drink wine that night also.
Then the younger arose and lay down with him,
and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose.
36 Therefore both the daughters of Lot were pregnant by their father.
37 The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab.
He is the father of the Moabites to this day.
38 The younger also gave birth to a son and called his name Ben-Ammi.
He is the father of the Ammonites to this day.
Genesis 19
[1] And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of
Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with
his face toward the ground;
[2] And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your
servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise
up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the
street all night.
[3] And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and
entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened
bread, and they did eat.
[4] But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom,
compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every
quarter:
[5] And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which
came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
[6] And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,
[7] And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.
[8] Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I
pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your
eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the
shadow of my roof.
[9] And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in
to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee,
than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near
to break the door.
[10] But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to
them, and shut to the door.
[11] And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with
blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the
door.
[12] And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and
thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring
them out of this place:
[13] For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great
before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.
[14] And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his
daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will
destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
[15] And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying,
Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be
consumed in the iniquity of the city.
[16] And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the
hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being
merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
[17] And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he
said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all
the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
[18] And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:
[19] Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast
magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I
cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:
[20] Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh,
let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.
[21] And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing
also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.
[22] Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come
thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
[23] The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.
[24] Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire
from the LORD out of heaven;
[25] And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the
inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.
[26] But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of
salt.
[27] And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood
before the LORD:
[28] And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the
plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of
a furnace.
[29] And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that
God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when
he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.
[30] And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two
daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave,
he and his two daughters.
[31] And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there
is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the
earth:
[32] Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that
we may preserve seed of our father.
[33] And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn
went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down,
nor when she arose.
[34] And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the
younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink
wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve
seed of our Father.
[35] And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger
arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when
she arose.
[36] Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.
[37] And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the
father of the Moabites unto this day.
[38] And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the
same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.
(Lot thought he was a self made success story.
It ends with disgrace and scandal)
GENESIS 20
Abraham and Abimelek
(Ge 12:10-20; 26:1-11)
1 Abraham journeyed from there toward the Negev,
settled between Kadesh and Shur, and then he sojourned in Gerar.
2 Then Abraham said about Sarah his wife, "She is my sister."
So Abimelek, king of Gerar, sent for her and took Sarah.
3But God came to Abimelek in a dream by night and said to him,
"You are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken,
for she is a man's wife."
4 Abimelek had not gone near her, and he said,
"Lord, will You slay a righteous nation?
5 Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister,' and did not even she herself say,
'He is my brother'? In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands
I have done this."
6 And God said to him in a dream, "Yes, I know that you did this
in the integrity of your heart. For I also kept you from sinning
against Me. Therefore, I did not let you touch her. 7 Therefore return
the man's wife, for he is a prophet and he will pray for you.
Moreover, you will live. However, if you do not return her,
know that you will surely die, you and all who are yours."
8 So Abimelek rose early in the morning, and called all his servants
and told them all these things, and the men were very afraid.
9 Then Abimelek called Abraham and said to him, "What have you done to us?
How have I offended you that you would bring on me
and on my kingdom a great sin?
You have done things to me that should not have been done."
10,Then Abimelek said to Abraham, "What were you thinking of,
that you did this thing?"
11 Abraham said, "Because I thought, surely there is no fear of God
in this place, and they will slay me because of my wife.
12 Still, indeed, she is my sister. She is the daughter of my father,
but not the daughter of my mother. She became my wife.
13 When God caused me to travel from my father's house, I said to her,
'This is your kindness which you must show me: Every place where we go,
say concerning me, He is my brother.'"
14 Then Abimelek took sheep, oxen, and male and female servants,
and gave them to Abraham, and returned his wife Sarah to him.
15 Abimelek said, "My land is before you; settle wherever it pleases you."
16 To Sarah he said, "I have given your brother a thousand shekels of silver.
It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you,
and before everyone you are vindicated."
17So Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelek, his wife,
and his female servants. Then they bore children.
18 For the Lord had closed up all the wombs of
the house of Abimelek because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.
Genesis 20
[1] And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled
between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.
[2] And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king
of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
[3] But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold,
thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a
man's wife.
[4] But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay
also a righteous nation?
[5] Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said,
He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands
have I done this.
[6] And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in
the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against
me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.
[7] Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he
shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know
thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.
[8] Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his
servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore
afraid.
[9] Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done
unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on
my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be
done.
[10] And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done
this thing?
[11] And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in
this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.
[12] And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but
not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
[13] And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's
house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto
me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.
[14] And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants,
and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.
[15] And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it
pleaseth thee.
[16] And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand
pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all
that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.
[17] So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and
his maidservants; and they bare children.
[18] For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of
Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.
(At least Abraham did not get kicked out, by why be dishonest?)
GENESIS 21
The Birth of Isaac
1 The Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah
as He had spoken. 2 For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his
old age, at the set time that God had spoken to him. 3 Abraham called
the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac.
4 Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old,
as God had commanded him.
5 Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.
6 And Sarah said, "God has made me laugh. All who hear will laugh with me."
7 Also she said, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse
children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age."
Hagar and Ishmael Depart
8 So the child grew and was weaned. Then Abraham made a great feast
the same day that Isaac was weaned. 9 Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian,
whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking. 10 Therefore she said to Abraham,
"Throw out this slave woman and her son, for the son of this slave woman
shall not be heir with my son, Isaac."
11 This matter was very displeasing in Abraham's sight because of his son.
12 But God said to Abraham, "Do not be upset concerning the boy
and your slave wife. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen
to what she says, for in Isaac your descendants will be called.
13 Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the slave woman,
because he is your offspring."
14 So Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread
and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder,
and sent her away with the child.
So she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba.
15 When the water in the skin was gone,
she placed the child under one of the shrubs.
16 Then she went and sat down across from him
at a distance of about a bowshot, for she said to herself,
"Let me not see the death of the child." She sat across from him,
and lifted up her voice and wept.
17 And God heard the boy's voice. Then the angel of God called
to Hagar out of heaven and said to her, "What is the matter with you, Hagar?
Do not be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.
18 Arise, pick up the boy and hold him in your hands,
for I will make him a great nation."
19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water.
And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.
20 God was with the boy; and he grew and lived in the wilderness
and became an archer. 21 He lived in the Wilderness of Paran,
and his mother found a wife for him out of the land of Egypt.
The Treaty With Abimelek
22 Now it came to pass at that time that Abimelek and Phicol,
the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, "God is with you
in all that you do. 23 Now therefore, swear to me by God that you will
not deal deceitfully with me, or with my children, or with my descendants.
Instead, according to the kindness that I have shown to you,
you will show to me and to the land where you have lived."
24Abraham said, "I will swear."
25 Then Abraham complained to Abimelek about a well of water
that Abimelek's servants had violently seized.
26 And Abimelek said, "I do not know who has done this.
You did not tell me, and I have not heard of it until today."
27 So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelek,
and the two of them made a covenant.
28 Then Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
29 And Abimelek said to Abraham, "What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs
that you have set by themselves?"
30 And he said, "You shall take these seven ewe lambs
from my hand so that they may be a witness that I have dug this well."
31 Therefore he called that place Beersheba,
because the two of them swore an oath there.
32 Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba. Then Abimelek rose with Phicol,
the commander of his army, and they returned to the land of the Philistines.
33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called
on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God.
34 Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines many days.
Genesis 21
[1] And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah
as he had spoken.
[2] For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set
time of which God had spoken to him.
[3] And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom
Sarah bare to him, Isaac.
[4] And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had
commanded him.
[5] And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto
him.
[6] And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will
laugh with me.
[7] And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have
given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.
[8] And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the
same day that Isaac was weaned.
[9] And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto
Abraham, mocking.
[10] Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son:
for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with
Isaac.
[11] And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.
[12] And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because
of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto
thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
[13] And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he
is thy seed.
[14] And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle
of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child,
and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of
Beer-sheba.
[15] And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one
of the shrubs.
[16] And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it
were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she
sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
[17] And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called Hagar
out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God
hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
[18] Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him
a great nation.
[19] And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and
filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.
[20] And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and
became an archer.
[21] And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife
out of the land of Egypt.
[22] And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief
captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that
thou doest:
[23] Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely
with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: but according to the
kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land
wherein thou hast sojourned.
[24] And Abraham said, I will swear.
[25] And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which
Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.
[26] And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst
thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.
[27] And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both
of them made a covenant.
[28] And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
[29] And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which
thou hast set by themselves?
[30] And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that
they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.
[31] Wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba; because there they sware
both of them.
[32] Thus they made a covenant at Beer-sheba: then Abimelech rose up, and
Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of
the Philistines.
[33] And Abraham planted a grove in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name
of the LORD, the everlasting God.
[34] And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days.
1 Chron 1
The Generations of Abraham
28 The sons of Abraham were Isaac and Ishmael.
28 The sons of Abraham; Isaac, and Ishmael.
2) Our Daily Bread for 19 January 2022 entitled
Heart Problem
Ezekiel 14:1-8
Idolatrous Elders Condemned
1 (Eze 8:1; 20:1) Then some of the elders of Israel came to me
and sat before me.
2 The word of the Lord came to me, saying:
3 (Eze 7:19; Isa 1:15) Son of man, these men have set up their idols
in their heart and put the stumbling block of their iniquity
before their face. Should I be inquired of by them at all?
4 (2Ki 1:16; Isa 66:4) Therefore speak to them and say to them, Thus says
the Lord God: Every man of the house of Israel who sets up his idols
in his heart, and puts the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face,
and comes to the prophet, I the Lord will answer him who comes according
to the multitude of his idols,
5 (Isa 1:4; Zec 11:8) in order to seize the heart of the house of Israel
who are estranged from Me through all their idols.
6 (Isa 2:20; 30:22) Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says
the Lord God: Repent and turn away from your idols and turn away your
faces from all your abominations.
7 (Ex 12:48; 20:10) For every one of the house of Israel or of the stranger
who sojourns in Israel who separates himself from Me, and sets up his idols
in his heart, and puts the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face,
and comes to the prophet to inquire of Me for himself,
I the Lord will answer him by Myself.
8 (Eze 5:15; 15:7) And I will set My face against that man and will make him
a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of My people.
And you shall know that I am the Lord.
1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
[1] Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.
[2] And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[3] Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put
the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be
inquired of at all by them?
[4] Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD;
Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and
putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to
the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the
multitude of his idols;
[5] That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are
all estranged from me through their idols.
[6] Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent,
and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your
abominations.
[7] For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth
in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his
heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and
cometh to a prophet to inquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer
him by myself:
[8] And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a
proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall
know that I am the LORD.
"Do you see it, brother Tim?" My friend, a Ghanaian pastor, flashed his
torchlight on a carved object leaning against a mud hut. Quietly he said,
"That is the village idol." Each Tuesday evening, Pastor Sam traveled
into the bush to share the Bible in this remote village.
In the book of Ezekiel, we see how idolatry plagued the people of Judah.
When Jerusalem's leaders came to see the prophet Ezekiel, God told him,
"These men have set up idols in their hearts" (14:3). God wasn't merely
warning them against idols carved of wood and stone. He was showing them
that idolatry is a problem of the heart. We all struggle with it.
Bible teacher Alistair Begg describes an idol as "anything other than God
that we regard as essential to our peace, our self-image, our contentment,
or our acceptability." Even things that have the appearance of being noble
can become idols to us. When we seek comfort or self-worth from anything
other than the living God, we commit idolatry.
"Repent!" God said. "Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable
practices!” (v. 6). Israel proved incapable of doing this. Thankfully, God
had the solution. Looking forward to the coming of Christ and the gift of
the Holy Spirit, He promised, "I will give you a new heart
and put a new spirit in you" (36:26). We can't do this alone.
By: Tim Gustafson
Reflect & Pray
When stress hits you, where do you turn for comfort?
What might you need to turn away from today?
Father, show me the idols in my heart.
Then help me destroy them and live in Your love.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 6 Showing Grace to Others - Day 4 "Formula" for Forgiveness
Luke 17:3 - 4
3 (Lev 19:17; Mt 18:21)"Take heed to yourselves."
"If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. And if he repents,
forgive him.
4 (Mt 18:21-22) If he sins against you seven times in a day,
and seven times in a day turns to you, saying,
'I repent,' you must forgive him."
3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him;
and if he repent, forgive him.
4And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day,
and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent;
thou shalt forgive him.
The context of these verses give us an interesting perspective of Jesus'
disciples. In a corollary passage in Matthew 18, the disciples (through
Peter, the designated mouthpiece) ask Jesus,
21 (Mt 18:15; Lk 17:3-4) Then Peter came to Him and said,
"Lord, how often shall I forgive my brother who sins against me?
Up to seven times?" (Matthew 18:21)
The disciples wanted a "formula" for forgiveness: they wanted to be able to
develop a checklist. Once, twice, maybe three times a brother could be
forgiven, but after that, you could write him off. After all, if
he keeps on offending over and over again, he doesn't deserve to be forgiven!
But Jesus says, " Rebuke him - let him know his fault; if he repents,
forgive him - even seven times in the same day!"
And the disciplines' response is predictable: "Lord, increase our faith!" They
were more comfortable with their own formula for forgiveness than with the
outrageous demands of the love that Christ imposed upon them.
We are so like the disciples. We want to draw a line and say. "This far
- no more. I'll forgive you once, but don't do it again. Now that you're
forgiven, you'd better shape up!". Yet God's love doesn't recognise "again".
He forgives, and no matter how often we come to him in repentance
for repeated offenses, his arms of forgiveness are open to us.
That is the way God wants us to forgive. He wants us to lay aside our
checklists, put away our suspicions, abandon our scoreboards, and forgive.
Seven times, or seventy times seven, as often as we have sinned against God
and been forgiven, we are to forgive.
Application
a) Have I ever kept a "scorecard" of performance on someone I
have forgiven ? Why?
b) Why do I need "increased faith" to be able to forgive as
Jesus calls me to?
4) Prosperity verses from Kenneth Copeland
Joshua 1:8
8 (Ps 19:14; 119:15) This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth.
Meditate on it day and night so that you may act carefully according to all
that is written in it. For then you will make your way successful,
and you will be wise.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt
meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according
to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous,
and then thou shalt have good success.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are discouraged or Depressed
Matthew 11: 25-30
25 (Ps 8:2; Jn 11:41) At that time Jesus said, "I thank You, O Father,
Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things
from the wise and prudent and revealed them to infants.
26 Even so, Father, for it seemed good in Your sight.
27 (Jn 10:15; Mt 28:18; Jn 1:18) "All things are delivered to Me
by My Father, and no one knows the Son, except the Father.
And no one knows the Father, except the Son and he to whom
the Son will reveal Him.
28 (Jn 7:37; 6:37) "Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavily
burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 (Jer 6:16; Jn 13:15) Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me.
For I am meek and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.(Jer 6:16).
30 (1Jn 5:3) For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."
because He has dealt bountifully with me.
The Hidden Revelation
25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father,
Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things
from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man
knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father,
save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek
and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
2015 Population - 4631302 Muslims about 136493
British Columbia - British Columbia's Muslim Population is growing constantly.
Every week there are immigrants ad refugees coming to the Greater Vancouver
and surrounding areas. There are also significant Muslim student populations
in our colleges and universities. Some have even suggested that there are
between 4000 and 5000 Saudi Arabian students alone, without counting all
other nationalities.
Greater Vancouver has an estimated 180000 Muslims, and there are significant
and growing communities in the Fraser Valley such as in Langley, Abbotsford,
Chilliwack, etc. Including these communities the total population for this
region is about 200000.
Of these, there are an estimated 100000 Iranians, 35000 Arabs, 15000 Ismailis,
more than 20000 Afghanis, 10000 South Asian Muslims, 3000 Turks, and small
numbers from other countries such as Sudan, Somalia, Albania, etc.
We are seeing some Muslims coming to Christ and we rejoice in that.
A few people also have some ongoing ministry to Muslims in the area,
for which we also rejoice. Let us agree in that
- the church will catch a vision to pray,
and a burden to train outreach to Muslims
- the church will press in to participate in effective
discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 "In the last days it shall be," says God,
"that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]
Footnotes
Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
17th Day of the Month
a) Pray for the safety of those
who live in your community -
safety from conflict an crimes
( Ps 122:7 - 7 Peace be within your walls
and security within your towers!
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
18th Day of the Month
a) Pray that pastors will experience spiritual, emotional and physical
refreshing for the presence of the Lord
( Jer 31:25
25 For I satiate the weary souls and I replenish every languishing soul.
25 For I have satiated the weary soul,
and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.
)
b) Pray that the Lord will protect and deliver our nation from
danger and adversity
( Ps 34:7
7 The angel of the Lord camps around those who fear Him,
and delivers them.
7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him,
And delivereth them.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and to be humble and honest in the eyes of the Lord.
Pray to the Lord: "Father, show me the idols in my heart.
Then help me destroy them and live in Your love."
Pray to the Lord and pray to Him as not to keep a scorecard of sin.
Pray to the Lord and pray the His word will not deprat from your mouth.
Pray to the Lord and pray to put all your concerns to Him.
Pray the church in BC will catch a vision to pray,
and a burden to train outreach to Muslims
Pray the church in BC will press in to participate in effective
discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.
Pray that pastors will experience spiritual, emotional and physical
refreshing for the presence of the Lord
Pray that the Lord will protect and deliver our nation from
danger and adversity
Pray for those working on written and audio translations of the Bible
in the Divehi language in the Maldives.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
1)
Genesis 19-21, 1 Chron 1:28
Gen 19 - 21
GENESIS 19
Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed
1 Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting
at the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them he rose up to meet them, and he
bowed himself with his face toward the ground.
2 Then he said, "Here, my lords, please turn in to your servant's house
and spend the night and wash your feet; and then you may rise early
and go on your way."
They said, "No, we will stay in the open square all night."
3 But he strongly insisted, so they turned aside with him
and entered his house. Then he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread,
and they ate. 4 Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom,
both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house.
5 They then called to Lot and said to him, "Where are the men
who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us,
so that we may have relations with them."
6 So Lot went out through the door to them and shut the door behind him.
7 Then he said, "Please, my brothers, do not act so wickedly.
8 Look, I have two daughters who have not been with a man.
Please, let me bring them out to you,
and you may do to them as you wish.
Only do nothing to these men,
for they have come under the shelter of my roof."
9 But they replied, "Stand back!" Also, they said,
"This man came here as an alien, and he keeps acting like a judge.
We will deal worse with you than with them."
So they pressed hard against Lot, and came close to breaking down the door.
10 But the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house
with them and shut the door.
11 Then they struck the men that were at the door of the house,
both small and great, with blindness so that they wore themselves
out groping for the door.
12 Then the men said to Lot,
"Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone
you have in the city, take them out of this place!
13 For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against
its people has grown great before the presence of the Lord,
and the Lord has sent us to destroy it."
14 So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law,
who had married his daughters,
and said, "Get up, get out of this place,
for the Lord will destroy this city!" But to his sons-in-law
he seemed to be joking.
15 When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying,
"Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here.
Otherwise you will be consumed in the punishment of the city."
16 And while he lingered, the men took hold of his and his wife's hands,
along with the hands of his two daughters,
the Lord being merciful to him,
and brought him out and set him outside the city.
17 When they had brought them out, one of them said to them,
"Escape for your lives! Do not look behind you or stay anywhere in the plain.
Escape to the mountain, lest you be destroyed."
18Then Lot said to them, "Please, no, my lords!
19 Your servant has found grace in your eyes, and you have shown your mercy,
which you have shown to me by saving my life. However, I cannot escape to
the mountain. Otherwise some evil will overtake me, and I will die.
20 Look, this city is close enough to flee to, and it is a little one.
Please, let me escape there (is it not a little one?),
and my life will be saved."
21 He said to him, "I have granted your request in this matter also.
I will not overthrow this city of which you have spoken.
22 Hurry, escape there, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there."
Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
23 The sun had risen over the land when Lot entered Zoar.
24 Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah.
It was from the Lord out of heaven.
25 So He overthrew those cities, all the valley,
all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.
26 But his wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
27 Now Abraham got up early in the morning and
went to the place where he stood before the Lord.
28 Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah,
and toward all the land of the valley,
and he saw the smoke of the land going up like the smoke of a furnace.
29 So it was that when God destroyed the cities of the valley,
God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the middle of the destruction,
when He overthrew the cities in which Lot lived.
Lot and His Daughters
30 Then Lot left Zoar, and lived in the mountains,
along with his two daughters who were with him,
for he was afraid to dwell in Zoar.
He and his two daughters lived in a cave.
31 And the firstborn said to the younger,
"Our father is old, and there is no man on the earth to have relations
with us after the manner of all the earth. 32 Let us make our father
drink wine and let us lie with him,
so that we may preserve the lineage of our father."
33 So they made their father drink wine that night,
and the firstborn went in and had relations with her father.
He did not know when she lay down or when she arose.
34 On the next day the firstborn said to the younger,
"Indeed, last night I had relations with my father.
Let us make him drink wine tonight also,
so that you may go in and have relations with him,
so that we may preserve the lineage of our father."
35 So they made their father drink wine that night also.
Then the younger arose and lay down with him,
and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose.
36 Therefore both the daughters of Lot were pregnant by their father.
37 The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab.
He is the father of the Moabites to this day.
38 The younger also gave birth to a son and called his name Ben-Ammi.
He is the father of the Ammonites to this day.
Genesis 19
[1] And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of
Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with
his face toward the ground;
[2] And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your
servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise
up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the
street all night.
[3] And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and
entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened
bread, and they did eat.
[4] But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom,
compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every
quarter:
[5] And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which
came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
[6] And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,
[7] And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.
[8] Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I
pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your
eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the
shadow of my roof.
[9] And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in
to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee,
than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near
to break the door.
[10] But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to
them, and shut to the door.
[11] And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with
blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the
door.
[12] And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and
thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring
them out of this place:
[13] For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great
before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.
[14] And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his
daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will
destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
[15] And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying,
Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be
consumed in the iniquity of the city.
[16] And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the
hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being
merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
[17] And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he
said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all
the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
[18] And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:
[19] Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast
magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I
cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:
[20] Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh,
let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.
[21] And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing
also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.
[22] Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come
thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
[23] The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.
[24] Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire
from the LORD out of heaven;
[25] And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the
inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.
[26] But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of
salt.
[27] And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood
before the LORD:
[28] And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the
plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of
a furnace.
[29] And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that
God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when
he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.
[30] And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two
daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave,
he and his two daughters.
[31] And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there
is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the
earth:
[32] Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that
we may preserve seed of our father.
[33] And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn
went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down,
nor when she arose.
[34] And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the
younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink
wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve
seed of our Father.
[35] And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger
arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when
she arose.
[36] Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.
[37] And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the
father of the Moabites unto this day.
[38] And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the
same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.
(Lot thought he was a self made success story.
It ends with disgrace and scandal)
GENESIS 20
Abraham and Abimelek
(Ge 12:10-20; 26:1-11)
1 Abraham journeyed from there toward the Negev,
settled between Kadesh and Shur, and then he sojourned in Gerar.
2 Then Abraham said about Sarah his wife, "She is my sister."
So Abimelek, king of Gerar, sent for her and took Sarah.
3But God came to Abimelek in a dream by night and said to him,
"You are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken,
for she is a man's wife."
4 Abimelek had not gone near her, and he said,
"Lord, will You slay a righteous nation?
5 Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister,' and did not even she herself say,
'He is my brother'? In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands
I have done this."
6 And God said to him in a dream, "Yes, I know that you did this
in the integrity of your heart. For I also kept you from sinning
against Me. Therefore, I did not let you touch her. 7 Therefore return
the man's wife, for he is a prophet and he will pray for you.
Moreover, you will live. However, if you do not return her,
know that you will surely die, you and all who are yours."
8 So Abimelek rose early in the morning, and called all his servants
and told them all these things, and the men were very afraid.
9 Then Abimelek called Abraham and said to him, "What have you done to us?
How have I offended you that you would bring on me
and on my kingdom a great sin?
You have done things to me that should not have been done."
10,Then Abimelek said to Abraham, "What were you thinking of,
that you did this thing?"
11 Abraham said, "Because I thought, surely there is no fear of God
in this place, and they will slay me because of my wife.
12 Still, indeed, she is my sister. She is the daughter of my father,
but not the daughter of my mother. She became my wife.
13 When God caused me to travel from my father's house, I said to her,
'This is your kindness which you must show me: Every place where we go,
say concerning me, He is my brother.'"
14 Then Abimelek took sheep, oxen, and male and female servants,
and gave them to Abraham, and returned his wife Sarah to him.
15 Abimelek said, "My land is before you; settle wherever it pleases you."
16 To Sarah he said, "I have given your brother a thousand shekels of silver.
It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you,
and before everyone you are vindicated."
17So Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelek, his wife,
and his female servants. Then they bore children.
18 For the Lord had closed up all the wombs of
the house of Abimelek because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.
Genesis 20
[1] And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled
between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.
[2] And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king
of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
[3] But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold,
thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a
man's wife.
[4] But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay
also a righteous nation?
[5] Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said,
He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands
have I done this.
[6] And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in
the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against
me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.
[7] Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he
shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know
thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.
[8] Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his
servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore
afraid.
[9] Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done
unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on
my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be
done.
[10] And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done
this thing?
[11] And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in
this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.
[12] And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but
not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
[13] And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's
house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto
me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.
[14] And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants,
and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.
[15] And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it
pleaseth thee.
[16] And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand
pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all
that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.
[17] So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and
his maidservants; and they bare children.
[18] For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of
Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.
(At least Abraham did not get kicked out, by why be dishonest?)
GENESIS 21
The Birth of Isaac
1 The Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah
as He had spoken. 2 For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his
old age, at the set time that God had spoken to him. 3 Abraham called
the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac.
4 Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old,
as God had commanded him.
5 Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.
6 And Sarah said, "God has made me laugh. All who hear will laugh with me."
7 Also she said, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse
children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age."
Hagar and Ishmael Depart
8 So the child grew and was weaned. Then Abraham made a great feast
the same day that Isaac was weaned. 9 Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian,
whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking. 10 Therefore she said to Abraham,
"Throw out this slave woman and her son, for the son of this slave woman
shall not be heir with my son, Isaac."
11 This matter was very displeasing in Abraham's sight because of his son.
12 But God said to Abraham, "Do not be upset concerning the boy
and your slave wife. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen
to what she says, for in Isaac your descendants will be called.
13 Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the slave woman,
because he is your offspring."
14 So Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread
and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder,
and sent her away with the child.
So she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba.
15 When the water in the skin was gone,
she placed the child under one of the shrubs.
16 Then she went and sat down across from him
at a distance of about a bowshot, for she said to herself,
"Let me not see the death of the child." She sat across from him,
and lifted up her voice and wept.
17 And God heard the boy's voice. Then the angel of God called
to Hagar out of heaven and said to her, "What is the matter with you, Hagar?
Do not be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.
18 Arise, pick up the boy and hold him in your hands,
for I will make him a great nation."
19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water.
And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.
20 God was with the boy; and he grew and lived in the wilderness
and became an archer. 21 He lived in the Wilderness of Paran,
and his mother found a wife for him out of the land of Egypt.
The Treaty With Abimelek
22 Now it came to pass at that time that Abimelek and Phicol,
the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, "God is with you
in all that you do. 23 Now therefore, swear to me by God that you will
not deal deceitfully with me, or with my children, or with my descendants.
Instead, according to the kindness that I have shown to you,
you will show to me and to the land where you have lived."
24Abraham said, "I will swear."
25 Then Abraham complained to Abimelek about a well of water
that Abimelek's servants had violently seized.
26 And Abimelek said, "I do not know who has done this.
You did not tell me, and I have not heard of it until today."
27 So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelek,
and the two of them made a covenant.
28 Then Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
29 And Abimelek said to Abraham, "What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs
that you have set by themselves?"
30 And he said, "You shall take these seven ewe lambs
from my hand so that they may be a witness that I have dug this well."
31 Therefore he called that place Beersheba,
because the two of them swore an oath there.
32 Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba. Then Abimelek rose with Phicol,
the commander of his army, and they returned to the land of the Philistines.
33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called
on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God.
34 Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines many days.
Genesis 21
[1] And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah
as he had spoken.
[2] For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set
time of which God had spoken to him.
[3] And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom
Sarah bare to him, Isaac.
[4] And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had
commanded him.
[5] And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto
him.
[6] And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will
laugh with me.
[7] And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have
given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.
[8] And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the
same day that Isaac was weaned.
[9] And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto
Abraham, mocking.
[10] Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son:
for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with
Isaac.
[11] And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.
[12] And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because
of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto
thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
[13] And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he
is thy seed.
[14] And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle
of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child,
and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of
Beer-sheba.
[15] And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one
of the shrubs.
[16] And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it
were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she
sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
[17] And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called Hagar
out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God
hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
[18] Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him
a great nation.
[19] And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and
filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.
[20] And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and
became an archer.
[21] And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife
out of the land of Egypt.
[22] And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief
captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that
thou doest:
[23] Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely
with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: but according to the
kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land
wherein thou hast sojourned.
[24] And Abraham said, I will swear.
[25] And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which
Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.
[26] And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst
thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.
[27] And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both
of them made a covenant.
[28] And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
[29] And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which
thou hast set by themselves?
[30] And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that
they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.
[31] Wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba; because there they sware
both of them.
[32] Thus they made a covenant at Beer-sheba: then Abimelech rose up, and
Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of
the Philistines.
[33] And Abraham planted a grove in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name
of the LORD, the everlasting God.
[34] And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days.
1 Chron 1
The Generations of Abraham
28 The sons of Abraham were Isaac and Ishmael.
28 The sons of Abraham; Isaac, and Ishmael.
2) Our Daily Bread for 19 January 2022 entitled
Heart Problem
Ezekiel 14:1-8
Idolatrous Elders Condemned
1 (Eze 8:1; 20:1) Then some of the elders of Israel came to me
and sat before me.
2 The word of the Lord came to me, saying:
3 (Eze 7:19; Isa 1:15) Son of man, these men have set up their idols
in their heart and put the stumbling block of their iniquity
before their face. Should I be inquired of by them at all?
4 (2Ki 1:16; Isa 66:4) Therefore speak to them and say to them, Thus says
the Lord God: Every man of the house of Israel who sets up his idols
in his heart, and puts the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face,
and comes to the prophet, I the Lord will answer him who comes according
to the multitude of his idols,
5 (Isa 1:4; Zec 11:8) in order to seize the heart of the house of Israel
who are estranged from Me through all their idols.
6 (Isa 2:20; 30:22) Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says
the Lord God: Repent and turn away from your idols and turn away your
faces from all your abominations.
7 (Ex 12:48; 20:10) For every one of the house of Israel or of the stranger
who sojourns in Israel who separates himself from Me, and sets up his idols
in his heart, and puts the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face,
and comes to the prophet to inquire of Me for himself,
I the Lord will answer him by Myself.
8 (Eze 5:15; 15:7) And I will set My face against that man and will make him
a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of My people.
And you shall know that I am the Lord.
1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
[1] Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.
[2] And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[3] Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put
the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be
inquired of at all by them?
[4] Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD;
Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and
putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to
the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the
multitude of his idols;
[5] That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are
all estranged from me through their idols.
[6] Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent,
and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your
abominations.
[7] For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth
in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his
heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and
cometh to a prophet to inquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer
him by myself:
[8] And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a
proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall
know that I am the LORD.
"Do you see it, brother Tim?" My friend, a Ghanaian pastor, flashed his
torchlight on a carved object leaning against a mud hut. Quietly he said,
"That is the village idol." Each Tuesday evening, Pastor Sam traveled
into the bush to share the Bible in this remote village.
In the book of Ezekiel, we see how idolatry plagued the people of Judah.
When Jerusalem's leaders came to see the prophet Ezekiel, God told him,
"These men have set up idols in their hearts" (14:3). God wasn't merely
warning them against idols carved of wood and stone. He was showing them
that idolatry is a problem of the heart. We all struggle with it.
Bible teacher Alistair Begg describes an idol as "anything other than God
that we regard as essential to our peace, our self-image, our contentment,
or our acceptability." Even things that have the appearance of being noble
can become idols to us. When we seek comfort or self-worth from anything
other than the living God, we commit idolatry.
"Repent!" God said. "Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable
practices!” (v. 6). Israel proved incapable of doing this. Thankfully, God
had the solution. Looking forward to the coming of Christ and the gift of
the Holy Spirit, He promised, "I will give you a new heart
and put a new spirit in you" (36:26). We can't do this alone.
By: Tim Gustafson
Reflect & Pray
When stress hits you, where do you turn for comfort?
What might you need to turn away from today?
Father, show me the idols in my heart.
Then help me destroy them and live in Your love.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 6 Showing Grace to Others - Day 4 "Formula" for Forgiveness
Luke 17:3 - 4
3 (Lev 19:17; Mt 18:21)"Take heed to yourselves."
"If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. And if he repents,
forgive him.
4 (Mt 18:21-22) If he sins against you seven times in a day,
and seven times in a day turns to you, saying,
'I repent,' you must forgive him."
3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him;
and if he repent, forgive him.
4And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day,
and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent;
thou shalt forgive him.
The context of these verses give us an interesting perspective of Jesus'
disciples. In a corollary passage in Matthew 18, the disciples (through
Peter, the designated mouthpiece) ask Jesus,
21 (Mt 18:15; Lk 17:3-4) Then Peter came to Him and said,
"Lord, how often shall I forgive my brother who sins against me?
Up to seven times?" (Matthew 18:21)
The disciples wanted a "formula" for forgiveness: they wanted to be able to
develop a checklist. Once, twice, maybe three times a brother could be
forgiven, but after that, you could write him off. After all, if
he keeps on offending over and over again, he doesn't deserve to be forgiven!
But Jesus says, " Rebuke him - let him know his fault; if he repents,
forgive him - even seven times in the same day!"
And the disciplines' response is predictable: "Lord, increase our faith!" They
were more comfortable with their own formula for forgiveness than with the
outrageous demands of the love that Christ imposed upon them.
We are so like the disciples. We want to draw a line and say. "This far
- no more. I'll forgive you once, but don't do it again. Now that you're
forgiven, you'd better shape up!". Yet God's love doesn't recognise "again".
He forgives, and no matter how often we come to him in repentance
for repeated offenses, his arms of forgiveness are open to us.
That is the way God wants us to forgive. He wants us to lay aside our
checklists, put away our suspicions, abandon our scoreboards, and forgive.
Seven times, or seventy times seven, as often as we have sinned against God
and been forgiven, we are to forgive.
Application
a) Have I ever kept a "scorecard" of performance on someone I
have forgiven ? Why?
b) Why do I need "increased faith" to be able to forgive as
Jesus calls me to?
4) Prosperity verses from Kenneth Copeland
Joshua 1:8
8 (Ps 19:14; 119:15) This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth.
Meditate on it day and night so that you may act carefully according to all
that is written in it. For then you will make your way successful,
and you will be wise.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt
meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according
to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous,
and then thou shalt have good success.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are discouraged or Depressed
Matthew 11: 25-30
25 (Ps 8:2; Jn 11:41) At that time Jesus said, "I thank You, O Father,
Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things
from the wise and prudent and revealed them to infants.
26 Even so, Father, for it seemed good in Your sight.
27 (Jn 10:15; Mt 28:18; Jn 1:18) "All things are delivered to Me
by My Father, and no one knows the Son, except the Father.
And no one knows the Father, except the Son and he to whom
the Son will reveal Him.
28 (Jn 7:37; 6:37) "Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavily
burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 (Jer 6:16; Jn 13:15) Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me.
For I am meek and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.(Jer 6:16).
30 (1Jn 5:3) For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."
because He has dealt bountifully with me.
The Hidden Revelation
25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father,
Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things
from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man
knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father,
save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek
and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
2015 Population - 4631302 Muslims about 136493
British Columbia - British Columbia's Muslim Population is growing constantly.
Every week there are immigrants ad refugees coming to the Greater Vancouver
and surrounding areas. There are also significant Muslim student populations
in our colleges and universities. Some have even suggested that there are
between 4000 and 5000 Saudi Arabian students alone, without counting all
other nationalities.
Greater Vancouver has an estimated 180000 Muslims, and there are significant
and growing communities in the Fraser Valley such as in Langley, Abbotsford,
Chilliwack, etc. Including these communities the total population for this
region is about 200000.
Of these, there are an estimated 100000 Iranians, 35000 Arabs, 15000 Ismailis,
more than 20000 Afghanis, 10000 South Asian Muslims, 3000 Turks, and small
numbers from other countries such as Sudan, Somalia, Albania, etc.
We are seeing some Muslims coming to Christ and we rejoice in that.
A few people also have some ongoing ministry to Muslims in the area,
for which we also rejoice. Let us agree in that
- the church will catch a vision to pray,
and a burden to train outreach to Muslims
- the church will press in to participate in effective
discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 "In the last days it shall be," says God,
"that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]
Footnotes
Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
17th Day of the Month
a) Pray for the safety of those
who live in your community -
safety from conflict an crimes
( Ps 122:7 - 7 Peace be within your walls
and security within your towers!
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
18th Day of the Month
a) Pray that pastors will experience spiritual, emotional and physical
refreshing for the presence of the Lord
( Jer 31:25
25 For I satiate the weary souls and I replenish every languishing soul.
25 For I have satiated the weary soul,
and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.
)
b) Pray that the Lord will protect and deliver our nation from
danger and adversity
( Ps 34:7
7 The angel of the Lord camps around those who fear Him,
and delivers them.
7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him,
And delivereth them.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and to be humble and honest in the eyes of the Lord.
Pray to the Lord: "Father, show me the idols in my heart.
Then help me destroy them and live in Your love."
Pray to the Lord and pray to Him as not to keep a scorecard of sin.
Pray to the Lord and pray the His word will not deprat from your mouth.
Pray to the Lord and pray to put all your concerns to Him.
Pray the church in BC will catch a vision to pray,
and a burden to train outreach to Muslims
Pray the church in BC will press in to participate in effective
discipleship of these new Muslim background believers.
Pray that pastors will experience spiritual, emotional and physical
refreshing for the presence of the Lord
Pray that the Lord will protect and deliver our nation from
danger and adversity
Pray for those working on written and audio translations of the Bible
in the Divehi language in the Maldives.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.