A Tale of Two Men

If you've come over from my devotion "Finding Our Place" published today, welcome. Have a look around and say hello.

In Genesis we encounter two men looking to find their place - Abram and Lot. Check it out from the Bible:

Lot, who was traveling with Abram, had also become very wealthy with flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and many tents. But the land could not support both Abram and Lot with all their flocks and herds living so close together. So disputes broke out between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot. (At that time Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land.)

Finally Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives! The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left.”

Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the Lord or the beautiful land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley to the east of them. He went there with his flocks and servants and parted company with his uncle Abram.

So Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom and settled among the cities of the plain. But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the Lord. (Genesis 13:5-13)

Abram was the elder family member, and therefore carried the most authority. He could've claimed whichever track of land he wanted and left the rest to Lot. But he was more interested in promoting peace and putting others first. He offered Lot first dibs.

Lot looked around and chose all the best looking land for himself ... the fertile valley ... the preeminent position. He left Abram with the rough looking plain. Yet in the pages to come - look it up and keep reading if you don't know the story - we see that Lot wound up choosing destructively, while God prospered His people in the land of Canaan. We see a shade of the first-becomes-last-and-last-becomes-first play out.

Their story also reveals a shade of meaning in Jesus' famous statement that it is more blessed to give than receive!

So Jesus, Abram and Lot got me thinking. I'm going to see what I can give today ...
who I can bless ...
who I can serve ...
which person can I usher in front of me in line ...

Afraid to Fail

Welcome, if you're visiting after reading my devotion today.

Are you the Queen of Afraid to Fail?

Does that fear keep you from even trying - even when you think it's something God has called you too? Yeah, I've been there. I can live there if I'm not careful.

The power verse in my devotion today describes me well:

"Stay alert, be in prayer, so you don't enter the danger zone without even knowing it. Don't be naive. Part of you is eager, ready for anything in God; but another part is as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire."

Mark 14:37b-38 (MSG)

While a part of me is definitely driven, another part of me is lazy or easily paralyzed with fear of failure. It's hard to live with both those feelings going on simultaneously. Reading this parable, I know which one it is God wants to kick to the curb! Check out these verses from Proverbs too:

(Proverbs 18:9) “He who is slothful in his work is a brother to him who is a great waster.”

(Proverbs 29:25) "The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe."

(Proverbs 31:30) "Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."

What area or tasks do you need to target with more effort, and which ones call on you to have more faith?

Don't worry but rather pray about everything, the Bible says. It also encourages us to seek input from wise counselors when we feel stuck or unsure. But when we do that and believe something is God's direction for us, we need to tackle it despite our fears. Oftentimes my fears don't go away before I begin - I just begin despite them, and then they dissipate.

I trust this helps someone out there today. Sweet blessings ~ R