Little Gems

As I've said here, I am doing the  "read the Bible in a year (or a little more)" thing.  And as I walk through the pages of God's story I am picking up these little gems along the way, things I've not noticed before.  It's great!  Oftentimes, we read a section of Scripture with a distinct purpose...either our own, or one we get from a devotional or study we are doing regarding that section or a specific topic.  So just reading the Word for the sake of reading His Words, digging into His heart and what our Father wants us to know is a whole different experience.  I am sure for each person the things that come out of this practice will be different and personal, holding God's purpose, direction and heart for each reader. 

I was reading chapter 22 of Genesis when I came to verse 18:  "And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed because you have obeyed Me."  Here, God is speaking to Abraham after the near sacrifice of of Isaac.  Abraham had obeyed God in bringing Isaac as a sacrifice and at the last minute God stayed Abraham's hand and provided a ram to be slaughtered instead.  Abraham did not even withhold his much loved child from God, knowing that God would provide and had the solution already worked out.  (A lesson there for us all as well, but I digress! LOL.) 

But what I started thinking about was this.  How many millions, upon millions, upon billions and maybe even trillions of people have been blessed by Abraham's act of obedience?  Can you imagine this?  The Hebrew nation grew from Isaac's line.  Millions of God's chosen people born, preserved and serving Him through Isaac.  Then we come to the even bigger picture: Christ.  Jesus Himself came from this family line.  And His sacrificial death (pictured in the Abraham/Isaac story) has saved untold numbers of people of all nations and races for centuries.  Eternal salvation! 

One small act of obedience in a sea of sinfulness has led to the salvation of multitudes!  Now, will my small acts of obedience (and some maybe not so small on the "I don't want to" scale) do the same?  Probably not.  But will they be a blessing now and maybe somewhere down the line?  I am going to say yes.  We don't know how or how much, but every time we say "yes" to our heavenly Father we are adding something good to the world and building the kingdom of God.  One act of obedience can lead to......only God knows! 

Lord, give me an obedient heart.  Help me want to please You more than myself, more than others, more than anything.  Lord, remind me of this over and  over and over again...all day, every day.  Help me to walk in the Spirit when I want to follow my flesh, my desires, my emotions.  The spirit is truly willing, but the flesh definitely weak.  Remind me of the importance of each decision I make.  Each word I speak...they are seeds for good, or seeds for evil.  I want to choose You!  Forgive my failings so very often in this area, even last night's where my words and attitudes showed anything but Your love.  I pray this in Jesus' Name.  Amen. 

Start a walk through the Bible. 

Galatians 5:16  So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Matthew 26:41  “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”