Devotion 132

^{HIS STRENGTH IS OUR STRENGTH}

When morning came, the angels told Lot to hurry. “Get up,” they said, “and take your wife and your two daughters who are here; otherwise you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.” ¹⁶ But he dallied, so the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand and the hands of his two daughters — Adonai was being merciful to him — and led them, leaving them outside the city. (Genesis 19:15,16)

Lot and his family had lived in the city of Sodom for some time, when the angels came to take him and his family to safety, before Yahweh wrought destruction.  During this time, he had become quite wealthy, in comparison to rural life, and he thought of himself as an upstanding member of Sodom society.  However, when he attempted to protect the two angels from mob violence, he was confronted with the reality – This guy came to live here, and now he’s decided to play judge. For that we’ll deal worse with you than with them. (Genesis 19:9)

Even when Lot realized his life and the lives of his family were threatened, he hesitated to leave the only home he knew, in Canaan, as we read in Genesis 19:16 – But he dallied, so the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand and the hands of his two daughters — Adonai was being merciful to him — and led them, leaving them outside the city.

How do we react, when God tells us to leave our old life behind, including our sins, and begin a new life, filled with the promises of Elohim’s salvation?  Have you ever led someone to the door of hope, only to have them pull back for fear of losing the only life they have known thus far?  Has that happened to you?  Unlike the angels of God, we cannot take them by the hand and pull them through the door; this action must be voluntary on their part, based on a heart-felt desire for repentance of their past and current sinfulness conjoined with a conviction to walk a different path, one moving towards righteousness.

CONSIDER: What are your emotions, when someone you love refuses to walk forward with you to receive God’s forgiveness of sin?  We realize we cannot own another’s decisions; however, often our emotions are irrational, touching deep-seated beliefs about our own power and strength.

Act:  Before sharing the Good News of the salvific sacrifice of our Messiah, Adonai Yeshua, the Lord Jesus, spend time in prayer, asking for His strength, His power to guide and lead you.

Pray:  Abba B’Shamayim, Beloved Father, I do not have the strength on my own to convince someone to accept your free gift of Salvation.  Please fill me with Your strength, share with me Your power and provide me with Your wisdom to know how far I may go.  In Your beloved Name I pray.

May you be fully and richly blessed by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Art: Debra Brewer