How will I be different because of what I have read today?
Title: In a land like Sodom and Gomorrah - there are some that take pleasure in sexual sin and there are no doubt victims of predators.
(S) Gen 18:20 "Then the Lord said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me."
(O) In the New Testament homosexuality is put in with thieves, the greedy, drunkards and swindlers indicating that these sins are all equal and yet here it the sin is so "grievous" that God has to come down - what is it - not so bad or the grievous sin that causes God himself to come down and check it out? It was so bad that "the outcry has reached me." Who is this outcry from - the victims - ??? I have heard homosexuals explain this passage saying that it was lack of hospitality and not homosexuality that was the sin - but it seems unlikely as "their sin was so grievous" - think that this sin to God is a very overwhelming sin for him to have to "come down and and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me."
(P) I pray for everyone ensnared by this sin.
Title: A sin that can take over a city - not a born this way sin.
(S) Gen 18:22-33 Abraham tries to convince God not to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah if there are 50 righteous men - then 40, then 30, then 20, then 10 - but these few righteous could not be found.
(O) The sin that has overtaken this city is rampant - it is a sin that is contagious - the entire city has given itself over to the sin - of homosexuality. A later verse states "all" the men both young and old came for the young men visiting Lot. There is always the debate whether this particular sin is born in or it is a choice. How could an entire city turn and become homosexual - unless - it is a contagious sin that loves converts. Those involved in this sin cannot see the truth and the picture of the men storming Lot's door to get his visitors becoming blind is a picture of the blindness of those involved in this sin.
(A) If this is so wrong why are we as Christians so tolerant? The problem is we are to hate the sin but love the sinner as we do in other sins.
(P) I pray for this city that I live in - may this sin of homosexuality be prayed against and diminish and may each and every person come to Christ and be free of this addiction.
Title: Our family can help us out of a catastrophe.
(S) Gen 19:29 "So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived."
(O) It was not that Lot was so righteous but rather that Lot was related to Abraham with whom God had made a covenant that kept Lot out of trouble.
(A) Family is very important in that they are our advocates to God on a continual basis - the pray for us, they keep an eye on us and let us know when we are falling. I think that Abraham was a man that prayed and God preserved Lot because of Abraham's prayers for him.
(P) Lord we are given our family - we do not choose them - and yet there they are - with prayer and help we can often hold back the tide of troubles that may befall a member of the family. Help us to be diligent in praying for our families.
Psalm 3
Title: It is the Lord who sustains us - not our own efforts.
(S) Psalm 3:5 "I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me."
(O) We should be able to get a great nights sleep without any worries because we know that God will take care of our needs.
(A) If it is the Lord who sustains us then we should not fret over the little day to day problems that come along - the Lord will sustain us - no matter what.
(P) Lord help me never to have anxiety or to fret as it really is the Lord who provides all we need or want.
Luke 7 The faith of the centurion, Jesus raises a widows son, Jesus anointed by a sinful woman.
(S) Luke 7:2 "There is a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die."
(O) What I note about this verse is how the the centurion loved and thought and worried about his servant. We have a business - do we love and care and think about the problems of our employees like this. We should l- this is the right attitude to have toward your employees.
(A) This year I would like this to change. I would love to care more for our employees needs.
(P) Lord make us better employers.
Title: The sinful woman spends all she has to spoil Jesus.
(S) Luke 7: 37 "When a woman who had led a sinful life in the town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she bought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind Him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears."
(O) There are a couple of things that are interesting - Jesus does not act important - he must have been so approachable. Not even a prostitute fell ill at ease showing him affection. He is a famous speaker, crowds follow him and he is able to do miracles - and yet he is not intimidating. Another thing is that Jesus is eating at a Pharisee's house - these are the religious bigots that hated him and yet he has made a friend in this group of enemies. The alabaster jar - very costly for a prostitute - she did not give something mediocre - she gave her all - financially and emotionally.
(A) I give in a mediocre way both financially and emotionally. Tired of being insipid - would love to be as passionate as this woman.
(P) Lord help me to be passionate.
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