Friday July 28th, 2023
« But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well »
5 Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born.
6 And Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me.
7 Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse a baby? Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!”
8 When Isaac grew up and was about to be weaned, Abraham prepared a huge feast to celebrate the occasion.
9 But Sarah saw Ishmael—the son of Abraham and her Egyptian servant Hagar—making fun of her son, Isaac.
10 So she turned to Abraham and demanded, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son. He is not going to share the inheritance with my son, Isaac. I won’t have it!”
11 This upset Abraham very much because Ishmael was his son.
12 But God told Abraham, “Do not be upset over the boy and your servant. Do whatever Sarah tells you, for Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.
13 But I will also make a nation of the descendants of Hagar’s son because he is your son, too.”
14 So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar’s shoulders. Then he sent her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba.
Understand
The Lord declared His place in the universe to be first in all things and filling all spheres, saying in Revelation 1:8NLT:
« I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One »
In light of this, He expects those who have given their lives to Him to put Him first in all things.
Making God first in our lives is the highest honor we can give to Him.
Indeed, there is no other positions suitable for Him in our lives than the first position.
The implication of this is that we must consult Him first before we do anything.
Those who jump the gun in their walk with God by taking steps before consulting Him always encounter disappointment, failure, hardship and great frustration.
No wonder the prophet said in Habakkuk 2:1NKJV:
« I will stand my watch and set myself on the tower, and watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected »
To enjoy our walk with Him therefore, we must be ready to always walk behind Him, patiently waiting and watching as He goes ahead of us to make every crooked path straight, and carefully putting our feet in His footprints.
An example of someone who jumped the gun in the course of his walk with God is Father Abraham.
If he had consulted with God before sleeping with Hagar at Sarah’s bidding, the Lord would not have allowed it (Genesis 16:1-3).
This action brought commotion to Abraham’s household and caused him great grief.
When Sarah could no longer bear the situation, she insisted that Hagar and her son, Ishmael, be sent away. It was at this time that Abraham consulted God on the matter, and God said to him in Genesis 21:12:
« But God told Abraham, “Do not be upset over the boy and your servant. Do whatever Sarah tells you, for Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted »
If only he had checked with God first, he would have avoided so much pain and hurt.
Beloved, let us learn to put God at the beginning, at the middle and at the end of all our plans, because He must fill all spheres of our lives for perfect guidance.
This should not be too difficult for those who desire to live with Him in His kingdom eternally.
Is God first in your life?
Prayer point: Father, please help me to recognize and be guided by Your footprints in every situation I am faced with in life, in Jesus’ Name.
Author: Bishop Enoch. A. Adeboye.
Edited by Naomie
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