Bible Verse and Hymn for Friday 14 January

"Greeting Everyone in the Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"

Today's Blog Title: "A Closer Look at the Abrahamic Covenant" (Part 1)
Today's Scripture Reading: James 2:23: "And the scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted him for righteousness."  And he was called a friend of God."

In the next two days we will take a closer look at the Abrahamic Covenant.  Today will be part 1.

In the opening of Genesis Chapter 12, we saw how God came into the lives of an older and childless couple (Abram and Sarai) with the words, "I will make you a great nation; I will bless you."  

This promise of God to Abram and Sarai was unconditional.  God told Abram that he would multiply Abram's descendants, and give them the land of Canaan.  God formalized His promise to Abram as a formal agreement between a superior king, and an inferior servant.  God told Abram that He would do it, and God's word is irrevocable.

God within his unconditional promises, made demands upon Abram and Sarai.  He commanded them to leave their home and their families, and go to a new land.  He commanded them to be a blessing unto others, and to walk before him blameless (with integrity), and to circumcise the males in the household as a sign of the covenant.  

Even though God's promises were unconditional, Abram's participation in God's blessings was conditioned on his faithfulness, and his obedience to God's commands.  Abram as we have seen withstood the test, he believed and he obeyed.

Tomorrow will be part 2 of "A Closer Look at the Abrahamic
Covenant.

Closing Question and Comment: Does your faith and belief measure up to that of Abraham's?  In the past few weeks we have looked at the call of Abraham to becomes the father of all nations.  We have seen, that Abraham listened and followed God commands without hesitation, and how God greatly blessed Abraham and Sarah.  We have seen the covenant that was made between Abraham and the "I Am Almighty God".  What a blessing it is to trust, and obey God even today, as Abraham did in his time.

You set my feet to dancing, You set my heart on fire
In the presence of a thousand kings, You are my one desire
And I stand before You now, with trembling hands lifted high
Be glorified
Be glorified in me, be glorified in me
Be glorified

Heavenly Father,  We come before you with thankful hearts, for what you do for us, when we trust and obey you.  We thank you for your Grace, Mercy and Love that you give to us, when we believe, because of the death of Your Son Jesus Christ, upon the cross of Calvary.  Because of His death, and our belief, we like Abraham, are also called, "A Friend of God."
                                                                                          Amen

Have a God Filled and a Spirit Led Day and may we as John say, "Come, Lord Jesus, Come".

Yours In Christ
Cindi