TheRoadtoEmmaus

AdailydevotionalfortheForestdaleCommunityChurch

October10-14,2016

ThisweekinStillness&SilenceOurScripturethisweekisaboutthefaithfulnessofGodtofulfillthecovenantHehadmadewithAbrahamthroughJesusChrist.Inyourmomentsofstillnessandsilencethisweek,imaginestandingatnightunderastar-filledsky.ImagineGodtellingAbrahamthathisdescendantswouldbeasnumerousasthosestars.ThenimagineoneofthosestarsshiningbrighterthanalltheothersonthenightinwhichtheChristwasborn.Jesuswasthat“descendantofAbraham”borntofulfillGod’scovenantsothatallpeoplesoftheearthmightbeblessed.Evenyou.WelcomeJesusintoyourmindandheart.Nowyouarereadytobegin.

Monday:MakingtheConnectionBeStillBeforeTheLord(2minutes)Scripture:Genesis15:17-18a

“Whenthesunhadsetanddarknesshadfallen,asmokingfirepotwithablazingtorchappearedandpassedbetweenthepieces.OnthatdaytheLordmadeacovenantwithAbram.”

Devotional InGenesis12GodmadeHisinitialcovenantwithAbram,promisingthatHewouldblessAbramandhisdescendants,andtheywouldbeablessingtoallthepeoplesontheearth.Hereinchapter15Godreaffirmsthatcovenant,andshowsAbraminadreamthewayinwhichGodwillbefaithfultothecovenant,andmakeaparticulardescendantofAbramablessingtoallthepeopleoftheearth. GodasksAbramtokillaheifer,agoat,aram,adove,andapigeon.Hewasthentocuttheirbodiesinhalves,andlaythehalvesoutonthegroundsuchthatapathwaywascreatedbetweenthepieces.Thiswasacommonformofmakingacovenantinthosedays,particularlybetweenakingandhissubjects.Thesubjectswouldwalkbetweenthepiecesproclaimingtotheking,“MayitbetomeliketheseanimalsifIamnotfaithfultomycovenantwithyou,OKing.”(Ie,“MayIbekilledandcutinhalf….”) WhatisamazinginGod’scovenantwithAbram,isthatitisGodwhowalksbetweenthepieces(intheformofasmokingpotandblazingtorch).ItisGodwhoproclaimstoAbram,“MayitbetoMEliketheseanimalsifIamnotfaithfultothecovenant.”Andindeed,inJesus,GodwouldofferHimselfforslaughter,notforhisownunfaithfulnesstothecovenant,butforours.Thus,Jesus,adescen-dantofAbram,wouldbeablessingtoallthepeoplesonearth.Question:AreyourelyingonyourfaithfulnesstoGodfortheassuranceofyoursalvation?OronGod’sfaithfulnesstoyou?BeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)Prayer:ThankYou,God,forYourgreatfaithfulnesstome.Amen.

Tuesday: PrayerBeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)Scripture Genesis12:2“IwillmakeyouintoagreatnationandIwillblessyou.”

DevotionalWhenIthinkofallthatGodpromisedAbraham,Ithink-howwasAbrahamabletobelieveitcouldbepossible?ButGenesis15:6tellsus,“AbrambelievedtheLord,andhecreditedittohimasrighteousness.”Impressive.AbrahamtookGodathisword.Eventhoughhecouldn’tfullyimaginewhatGodmeant,orhowHewouldfulfillhispromises,hebelieved.Hisbeliefthoughwasnotinwordsalone,Abrahammadechoicesthatactedasatestimonytohisbelief.Abraham’sfaithisanexampletous.Areminderofwhatcouldbeifwecan,infaith,believeGod’spromisestous.SowhataresomeofGod’spromisestothosewhobelieve?Salvation,eternallife,andthepromisethatHewillneverleaveusorforsakeus.Ifwecouldcometomorefullyembracethesepromises,tomakechoicesthatreflectthatwearelivingandrestinginGod’spromises….ourliveswouldbetransformed.Question:HowmightyourlifebetransformedifyoucouldtakeevenjustonesteptodaytowardsembracingHispromisesandlivingthelifeHehascalledyouto?BeStillBeforetheLord(2minutes)Prayer:Lord,it’snotalwayseasytobelieve.Butoftenit’seasiertosaywebelievethanitistolivelikeitisso.FilluswithyourSpiritandempowerustostepoutinfaithtothelifeyouhavecalledustoo.GiveusthecouragetoallowYoutotransformourlives.Amen.

Wednesday: RestBeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)Scripture Gen:15:9-10;17-18“…theLORDsaidtohim,“Bringmeaheifer,agoatandaram,eachthreeyearsold,alongwithadoveandayoungpigeon.”10Abrambroughtallthesetohim,cutthemintwoandarrangedthehalvesoppositeeachother;thebirds,however,hedidnotcutinhalf.17Whenthesunhadsetanddarknesshadfallen,asmokingfirepotwithablazingtorchappearedandpassedbetweenthepieces.18OnthatdaytheLORDmadeacovenantwithAbramandsaid,“ToyourdescendantsIgivethisland,fromtheWadiofEgypttothegreatriver,theEuphrates.”Devotional

AbramwaslikelyastonishedthathisKing,whoaskedtohavetheanimalssacrificed,wouldHimself(symbolizedbythefirepot)swearHisoathtohissubjectbywalkingdowntheaislebetweenthecuthalvesoftheanimals.GodwasratifyingHiscovenantwithAbraham.AbrahambelievedtheLord,andcouldrestonthistrustinHim.WehaveanewcovenantpavedbyChristtheKing.OurKingtookituponHimselftopavethewaytooursalvation.CanthisgifthelpyourestinJesus?ToparaphraseEphesians:ItisbyHisgracethatwehavebeensavednotofourselves,butagiftofGod.Jesusoffersrestinsalvationreceived,andrestinthehopeofsalvationyettocome.WecanrestinHisforgiveness,mercyandgrace. Question:Howcanyoureceive,restandliveinthatmercyandgrace?BeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)Prayer: LordJesus,theworldismovingfasterandfaster.Thepresentworldisaveryscaryplace.HelpmelearntorestinYourperfectpeace.Helpmetorestinknowingyou.Likeachildwhofeelscalmed-downinthearmsofherfather,helpmefeelsafeandsecureinYourarms.HeavenlyFather,thankyouforlovingmeandmakingrestpartofYourplanformylife.Amen

Thursday:RelationshipBeStillBeforetheLord(2minutes)Scripture:Genesis12:3

“Andallpeoplesoftheearthwillbeblessedthroughyou.”Devotional

God’sblessingthroughAbrahampointsustoChrist,becauseChrististheoffspringthroughwhom“allpeoplesonearthwillbeblessed.”(seeGalatians3:8)

Inthedictionary,thereare3definitionsofthewordblessed:1.Beingmadeholy.2.Beingendowedwithdivinefavorandprotection.3.Bringingpleasureorreliefasawelcome.

Manypeopleusethewordblessedasin:beingblessedwithmanychildren,blessedwithagoodjob,blessedwithanicehome,blessedwithhealth,etc.Althoughthesearesomeformsofblessing,whataboutthosewhocan’thavechildren,orareunemployed,orhomeless,orhavedisabilities?DoesthismeantheyarenotblessedbyGod?Noticethefirstdefinition,beingmadeholy.WearemadeholythroughfaithinJesusChrist.Thesupremeformofbeingblessedistobeawareofourtransgressions,tobeledtorepentance,tobesanctifiedforholiness,andtoreceivesalvation.TheoffspringofAbraham,JesusChrist,hasmadeallthepeopleoftheearthblessed,andwhatablessingindeed!Question:AreyouseekingJesusfordivinefavorandgoodfortune?OrareyouseekingHimforhisSupremeblessing?BeStillBeforetheLord(2minutes)Prayer:Father,pleasehelpustoseehowblessedweare.Notwithmaterialthingsorgoodfortune,butwithbeingbeabletohavearelationshipwithYouthroughJesusChrist.Amen.

Friday: WorkBeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)Scripture Genesis15:1

AfterthesethingsthewordoftheLORDcametoAbraminavision:“Fearnot,Abram,Iamyourshield;yourrewardshallbeverygreat.”

Devotional

Abramwantedason. Heabsolutelydidn’twanthislineagetostopwithhim.Yet,hewasoldandknewtheclockwasticking.AbrammusthavequestionedGod’ssensibilities.Heneededsonstodohisworkandcarryonthefamilyline.Abramwasnervous,butGodsaid,“Don’tfret!”GodchosetowaitforAbramandSarahtobebeyondchildbearingagesotheywouldknowtheiroffspringwasagiftfromHim.Godseesthebigpicture,butlikeAbram,wegetcaughtupintheminutiaoflifeandforgetthatGodistheGodofmiracles.Godseeseverythingpast,presentandfuture.There’snoneedtoworry.Abramwasrewardedwithgenerationsandgenerationsofpeoplewhowouldcomefromhisseed.Godpromisedhimthathisoffspringwouldbelikethenumberofstarsinthesky.Thatisamazinginitself.ButevenmoreamazingisthatfactthathisoffspringwouldincludeJesusChrist,somethingthatAbramcouldn’tevenfathom.Question:WhatprayerareyouwaitingforGodtoanswer?Areyoureadyforamazement? BeStillBeforetheLord (2minutes)Prayer: DearGod,thankyouforyourloveandthatyouknowusbetterthanweknowourselves.Helpustoputourfaithinyouandexpecttheunexpected.Amen.

TheDevotionalWritersthisweek:

Monday:PaulMcPheetersTuesday:BethGovoni

Wednesday:NancyMcLaughlinThursday:ChristineBartholomew

Friday:ChrisRedford