Sabbath Sunday Devotion | 2023
Genesis 15:1-6; 21:1-3
After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
21:1 The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. 2 And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. 3 Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac.Hebrews 11:8-12; 17-19
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore…
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.Hebrews 1:1-2
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world
Though the year draws to an end, the Lord’s promises do not. Abraham was a man who was devoted to the Lord but saw many years go by before God’s promises came to fruition. The stars were an image that Abraham carried with him as he journeyed with the Lord.
This past year was one of breakthrough in many forms. A year where we asked the Lord to show us what needed to be broken down in order for Him to break through. He has been so gracious by giving us images and whispers and nudges of what He has for us as He has done for His people throughout time. But like Abraham, we have some work to do before all is complete.
Abraham had a long journey where he had no idea what lay ahead. He was even asked to give up “his promise” in his son to the Lord and he proved faithful even in the hardest of circumstances. But he knew that Issac himself was not the actual fulfillment of the promise. Abraham had such deep rooted belief in God and his character that he was confident in the Lord’s goodness and knew God would not and could not fail him.
We do not know all of what this next year will bring us, it could bring joy or sorrow or obstacles or triumphs but what we do know are the images and victories of this past year. These are what we hold on to, to remind us of His goodness and mercy when we are faint. We can be confident that God will be powerfully working in and through all things, just like He always has. His faithfulness has never been broken. Even in the silence of hundreds of years, He never forgot His people and brought salvation to them through His Son Jesus. Now we get to walk with Jesus through the movement of His Spirit as we journey through 2024.
Spend some time this morning reflecting on the promises God has given you this past year. Maybe it was an image, maybe it was a conversation or word from a friend, maybe it was a verse that gave you hope. What has God said about you or your future?
How has God brought you through the hard times of the past year? Did He give you strength to be vulnerable and join community? Or self-control to overcome sin? Did He provide in ways unexpected? Did He heal relationships? Did He simply sustain you when you were low?
Walking with Jesus through 2024 is going to call you to lay down more of you and pick up more of His character. He desires to be with you and in you as you move and speak this year. Don’t be surprised by the twists and turns of the physical surrounding you; He is right there with you, guiding you along the way.
Using Psalm 105, pray, reflect, and rejoice in all the Lord has done for you, from parting the sea, to sending His Son, to holding you right now, “give thanks to the Lord…glory in His Holy Name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!”
Prayer from Psalm 105:
“Thank you Lord, I will never stop speaking of what you have done for me.
I praise you for your wonderful works.
I am confident in Your Holy Name,
Because of You, I rejoice.
Your strength and might and power I will not forget as I seek You all my days.
I will remember all that You have done,
How You have healed and guided those that call You, Father.
You remember Your promises forever, they will always stand.
I can trust in You and Your Holy Name.
Amen.”
Happy New Years Eve Glory Church!
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We cannot wait to worship with you in the New Year.
Devotion written by Pastor Kate McKinney
