Jan. 8, 2021
Abraham was 99 years old when the Lord said he would have “countless descendants” (Genesis 17:2-4, NLT).
Abraham and his wife, Sarah, had never been able to conceive. At their age, biological kids seemed impossible. But Abraham believed, and as a sign of his commitment to God, he circumcised every male in his household (Genesis 17:23).
From that day forward, circumcision would serve as a reminder of the covenant between God and Abraham. In circumcising their children, future generations were declaring their faith in God’s promise and their commitment to serving God, just as Abraham had.
When the Lord appears to Abraham in Genesis 18, He reaffirms His promise to make Abraham a father. And this time, God says it within earshot of Sarah. She laughs incredulously, leading the Lord to remind her that nothing is impossible for Him.
In a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explains that motivation matters. He warns the crowd against giving, praying, and fasting purely for public recognition.
Many of Jesus’ listeners would have grown up going to synagogue and knowing what God’s people should do. But doing the right things with the wrong heart isn’t what God wants.
It’s not wrong to pray in public, but Jesus says God also wants to hear from you in private (Matthew 6:6). It’s not wrong to consider your words, but Jesus says we should mean what we say (Matthew 6:7-8).
Pursuing God with a pure heart leads to eternal rewards (Matthew 6:21). God wants a real, authentic relationship with us that extends into our private lives. He wants us to want to be with Him even if no one is looking.
Make It Personal
- When’s the last time you spent time with God outside of Sunday and without anyone knowing about it? If it’s been a while, take 30 minutes to an hour this week to be alone with God. Talk to Him and jot down anything you hear Him saying.
Learn More About Abraham’s Visitors
Who were the three men who came to see Abraham? According to Bible scholars, one was God appearing as a man. These divine manifestations happen several times in the Old Testament. Learn more here.