Bible Verse and Hymn for Sunday 8 January

"Greetings in the Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"

Today's Blog Title: "Abram and Melchizedek"
Today's Blog Scripture" Genesis 14:1-24
Today's Key Verse: Genesis 14:18-20: "Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.  And he blessed him and said: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be the God Most High, Who as delivered your enemies into your hand." 

Verse 14 opens with with a war being waged between the kings of the region.  In verse 11 we see that Lot was captured as well as his goods.  Abram was told of this and takes 318 servants and went to rescue Lot.  The fact that Abram could field 318 fighting men from his own servants is an indication of the great wealth and honor that the Lord has given him.

Abram's raid was a complete success.  He regained all the goods that was taken by the raiding party and also rescued his nephew Lot.

As Abram returns he is met by two kings.  One from Sodom and the other from Salem.   The king of Salem was Melchizedek who like Abram worshiped the living God.  He brought out bread and wine to celebrate God's deliverance of Abram and his men.

Melchizedek was the first to bless Abram.  Melchizedek declared Abram's true nature of victory: "God delivered him"  

We see that as Abram and Melchizedek were worshiping the True God that Abram has ignored the king of Sodom.  Now he turns his attention to the king of Sodom.  The king of Sodom now tells Abram that all he wants is his people back and that Abram could keep the goods of the raid.  Abram tells the king that he doesn't want anything from him so that the king couldn't tell others that he made Abram rich.  In the closing verse of Chapter we see that Abram tells the king of Sodom that his allies Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre were not bound by his own resolution and to give them there portions.

Closing Question and Comment: What attitudes of Abram can we as Christians apply to our family life?  We saw that Melchizedek is the first to bless Abram this comes under the special provision of God's promise of blessing.  When we bless God, we acknowledge Him as the source of all our blessings.

When we walk with the Lord, in the light of his word
What a glory he sheds on our way
While we do his good will, He abides with us still
And with all those that trust and obey
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey

Heavenly Father, May we as believers in you, have the faith of your servant Abram, as we live our daily lives for you.
                                                                                Amen

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day and lift your hands and voices up to the King and Kings and Lord of Lords.

Yours In Christ
Cindi