Student Devotional Week 7: Abraham: Channel For Blessing

Key Verse: Hebrews 11:10 (New International Version)
"For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God."

You probably learned about Father Abraham as I did singing the silly kids song "Father Abraham" during VBS or Sunday School, but it is true that God chose Abraham to be the Father of a great nation, the nation of Israel. What most of us don't know if we haven't read the story in Genesis 11:26-31, is that Abraham came from a rural area called Ur. God called Abraham's father to move to Haran and at the age of 75, God called Abraham once again to move to a land called Canaan. That's a lot of moving around, but the people of the Bible during this time were considered nomads or herders because they moved around a lot essentially to find the best land to raise cattle and grow crops. They lived in tents to make them more mobile. Abraham traveled with all of his family and even his extended family, traveling with his nephew Lot. When they got to Canaan Abraham and Lot had to divide up the land to settle in and Abraham allowed Lot to choose first and of course he choose the most fertile land, but it also was the land closest to the evil cities of Sodom & Gomorrah. Even though Lot had the better land, Abraham was promised by God to be a channel of Blessing to his descendants. What would you have done if you were Abraham having to choose between seemingly material wealth in a rich fertile land or trust God will provide if you make the tough decision and stay out of trouble by avoiding living in a land of evil? It is difficult to make the better decision even if on the outside appearances would seem otherwise. Abraham was also used by God to Bless others. As Christians we are to be Blessings to the people around us. How do you use your life to Bless others? It takes humility sometimes to live a life of Blessing, giving of yourself, your time, your talents and possessions so others might have. I heard a quote once that I think is very important to keep in mind in being a Blessing to others, "The ones who are hardest to love are usually the ones who need it the most." Don't let the outside tough layer that people show sometimes prevent you from showing them love because they probably are someone who needs to be shown love.