Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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PROMISING FELLOWSHIP
  Genesis 18:1-16
Pradeep John
Connecticut Mar Thoma Congregation
14 Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son.”

 
In today’s world, unbelief and laughing at God’s promises is what we see all around. Even though we go to church and read God’s word, do we stand firm and unwaveringly believe in God’s promises to us or do we just perform all our spiritual works and rituals because someone told us to?
 
In this passage we see Abraham inviting strangers by showing proper respect and preparing a good meal. We see here that Abraham was a good host even to strangers. The Bible tells us that “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it” (Heb 13:2).   In the Bible many of God’s promises and miracles are done during a fellowship meal with hospitable people. We see that Jesus performed his first miracle during a wedding feast.
During the meal, God made a promise to Abraham that he will have a child through Sarah. Sarah was listening to the conversation from within the tent and laughed at the promise as she and Abraham were well advanced in age. Even though she was in the tent God knew what Sarah was thinking and asked why Sarah was laughing to which Sarah lied and said she did not laugh. We try to hide our deeds from people and think nobody sees it, but we forget that God knows everything and all our deeds will be brought to light.

 

The Bible says “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve” (Jer 17:10). God’s reply to Sarah’s laughter was “Is anything too hard for the Lord”. The problem was that Sarah’s laughter reflected her unbelief in the promise of God. Unbelief is a more serious sin, than most of us realize. Doubting or unbelief in God’s word is tantamount to calling God a liar. In our lives when problems and trials arise we try to solve things ourselves, we do not bring our burdens to God every day. We think we are smart enough to fix our life issues. If God brings us to a humanly impossible situation, it is to bring us to the end of our own strength so that we will trust in His ability to do what is humanly impossible. In all things small or big in our lives we should always remember God’s question “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” and trust God to do what is humanly impossible. Bible says “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it”.  (Isaiah 55:11).

PRAYER

Almighty and Gracious God, help us to overcome our unbelief. Grant us Your spirit to strengthen our faith and to remind us that, through You all things are possible. Amen

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
 
In all life situations can we firmly believe in God and say like Jeremiah “Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.”

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