Thursday: Abraham – A Missionary in His Own House
Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD, by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him
(Gen. 18:18-19 NIV).
What important lessons about faithfulness and serving God do we find in these texts?
God called Abraham to be a teacher of His word, He chose him to be the father of a great nation, because He saw that Abraham would instruct his children and his household in the principles of God’s law.
Image © Providence Collection from GoodSalt.com
And that which gave power to Abraham’s teaching was the influence of his own life. His great household consisted of more than a thousand souls, many of them heads of families, and not a few but newly converted from heathenism.
–Ellen G. White, Education, p. 187.
Missionary activities will be more successful when they are backed by a family life that is in harmony with the designs of God. Bible history and church history tell us that most early Christian churches were house-and family-based. One of the reasons Abraham was chosen was that God saw his ability to direct his children and his household in the way of the Lord. God’s purpose in the family equals His purpose in missions; namely, to do what is right and just
(Prov. 21:3 NIV).
What examples of Abraham’s family can you find that showed that they were faithful to the Lord? See, for example, Heb. 11:11, Heb. 11:20.
Of course, in the Bible we can also find examples of godly men whose families didn’t follow the way of the Lord. Nevertheless, the point of the texts for today is clear: Abraham’s faith and example were strong enough that those of his household learned to keep the way of the LORD
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To keep the way of the LORD.
What does that phrase mean to you? How are we to keep the way of the LORD
?
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We also need to show the right to world because we ha have great GOD
God`s interest on us human beings is to redeem us all....!Abraham took this serious and so taught first the good news to his family,and then to others.We are missionaries to our own families,and to the whole world.
I always maintain if you cannot evangelize your family or at least have them respect you and your ideals then it is best to stick to family evangelism before going out to Judea, Samaria and to the whole wide world. It is just plain common sense.
Families are under attack in this generation of ours especially young couples. The devil knows that when missions is acomplished in the family its easier done in commutnity too.
We are here for the purpose to help God and we must know that even Satan is at work never sleepless. If we know that we will never walk alone, and will ask the Holly Spirit to guide us on a right path, and to be a good steward of God. We begin at home if we choose the light, we will be the light and people will see it from us.
To keep the way of the Lord means alot to me cause at times i might have my own desires and the Lord's plan is not my own, so keeping His law and teaching them to my family is essential in my everyday walk with God. The more i Know Him , the more easy is for me to Trust Him.
For me, keeping the way of the Lord means to have faith and trust in the work that Jesus did (died on the cross for my sins), is doing at the present (interceding for me) and what He will do later (come to get me). It also means that I pray always, read and meditate on His Word of God and teach others to do same.
Keeping the Lord's way is to obey and do His will.
Worship starts at home. Praise God for his mercy and for giving us examples to follow thru our ancestors.
Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD, by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him (Gen. 18:18-19 NIV).
What important lessons about faithfulness and serving God do we find in these texts?
We cannot expect our children to follow Christ’s examples if we speak but not do what Christ calls us to. We are to be of service at home and abroad just like Abraham. Abraham directed his household by being obedient to the calling and directions of God even when Abraham had absolutely no idea what he would do, or where he would go. It is important for us to always be faithful and obedient. Our children are watching us and emulating everything that we do. So we are asked to go do something that we do not think we should do, but the work we are called to do is of service to God, yet we disobey because this is going to be hard for us or for our family. God promised that he would take care of Abraham, that he would make Abraham a great man, the father of many nations. Wherever God led, Abraham followed and took his faith, his obedience and his praise and worship with him. Abraham was a selfless leader of his household.
What examples of Abraham’s family can you find that showed that they were faithful to the Lord? See, for example, Heb. 11:11, Heb. 11:20.
We are often called to leave worldly connections, interests, and comforts. If heirs of Abraham's faith, we shall obey and go forth, even though we do not know what may happen to us; and we will always do our Christian service and duty, only looking for the performance of God's promises. The trial of Abraham's faith was, that he simply and fully obeyed the call of God. Sarah received the promise as the promise of God; being convinced of that, she truly judged that he both could and would perform it. Many, who have a part in the promises, do not soon receive the things promised. Faith can lay hold of blessings at a great distance; can make them present; can love them and rejoice in them, though strangers; as saints, whose home is heaven; as pilgrims, travelling toward their home. By faith, they overcome the terrors of death, and bid a cheerful farewell to this world, and to all the comforts and crosses of it. And those once truly and savingly called out of a sinful state, have no mind to return into it. All true believers desire the heavenly inheritance; and the stronger faith is, the more fervent those desires will be. Notwithstanding their meanness by nature, their vileness by sin, and the poverty of their outward condition, God is not ashamed to be called the God of all true believers; such is his mercy, such is His love for us. Let us never be ashamed of being called his people, nor of any of us who are truly His children, even though we may be despised in the world. Above all, let us be careful that we are not a shame and reproach to our God because of our disobedience and faithlessness. The greatest trial and act of faith upon record is, Abraham's offering up Isaac, Genesis 22:2. There, every word shows a trial. It is our duty to reason down our doubts and fears, by looking, as Abraham did, to the Almighty power of God. The best way to enjoy our comforts is, to give them up to God; He will give to us in return, what is the best for us. Let us look how far our faith has brought us through our obedience, when we were called to lesser acts of self-denial, or to make smaller sacrifices. Have we given up what we were called to do? Do we really believe that the Lord would make up all our losses, and even bless us by the harshest afflictions? (M
To keep the way of the LORD. What does that phrase mean to you? How are we to keep the way of the LORD?
To keep the way of the Lord….means to do God’s will; to be obedient; to honor Him by keeping His commandments; to be faithful and just, honest and selfless just as Christ did when He was here on earth. Lord give me the strength to always keep Your ways and to do Your will.
There is nothing in man that can qualify him for service to God. The KJV translation of Gen 18:18,19 was wrong. God KNOWS Abraham "in order that he would direct his children...."; just as God KNEW Jeremiah "before I formed you in the womb"Jer 1:5 and "The Lord KNOWS those who are His"2 Tim 2:19; and "I NEVER KNEW you, depart from Me...."Mat 7:23
YLT says 18."and Abraham certainly becometh a nation great and mighty, and blessed in him have been all nations of the earth?
19 for I have known him, that he commandeth his children, and his house after him (and they have kept the way of Jehovah), to do righteousness and judgment, that Jehovah may bring on Abraham that which He hath spoken concerning him.’
This poses a very serious question. Could it be that our youths lack of interest in the church, the bible and Godly things stems from lack of spiritual guidance at home?
How can one lead the household of faith when he or she cannot order their home after them? Is there a way to communicate this to parents, Lack of so call youth programs is not the only nor major reason why youths interest in church & spiritual things are diminishing. It's the home. Thousands of youth programs held every day cannot substitute for guidance at home and a Godly life lived by the parents.