Furthermore...

Exodus 3:15 God, furthermore, said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.

Wow, God took time to recall more than just one reminder - he recalled several! He is the God of his fathers, of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob – what credibility he lists!  He reminds Moses of the steadfastness of his name, his love, and his commitment to his children.

He then establishes that He will never change, because it’s his name forever, his “memorial-name” to ALL GENERATIONS.

That’s the kind of father we have!

He will never leave us, abandon us, push us away or disregard who we are to him.  He is the ONE we can count on even when all of life hits us hard. 

He is a good father who cares for our wounds and restores us to health and to eternal life with him.

All My Life

Genesis 48:15 He blessed Joseph, and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,

Here again, we read about God’s faithfulness to the past generation.

I love the last part where in his blessing, the speaker recalls how God has led him his entire life.

Isn’t it such a beautiful picture of us walking with Him, as he leads us like a shepherd leads sheep, to water, to green pastures, away from cliffs, and into his arms?

That’s the kind of God, the kind of Father, we all have access to…because of Jesus.

You can receive that same blessing because you are a descendant of Abraham…and so am I.

Be blessed.

...Of your father

Genesis 46:3 

Many verses use that phrase “God of your father” where the speaker reminds the person being spoken to of God’s faithfulness to past generations.

We need to have people in our lives who have seen God’s faithfulness, and we need to sit near them and listen to those stories of God’s love and care in their lives.  If it’s not our own father, then we need to find a father who has lived that experience.

And then when we hear it, we need to believe and receive what the father has for us.

And finally, we need to tell our children so that they then have a father who has experienced the Father’s love.

God is faithful and has been, to the first father all the way down to you and the fathers coming after you….

Listen, receive it, and tell it…and don’t be afraid.

Engaged

Titus 3:8 This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.

I think the key word in this verse is “engage.”  We can all do good deeds.  We even require our kids to get out of bed on a Saturday morning and do good deeds for the family, the community, or church.

But we can all do good deeds without being engaged.  It’s sort of like being present but being absent.  Our heart isn’t in what we’re doing.

Being engaged in doing good deeds wanes and becomes disengagement when we are doing good deeds to be thanked, seen by others, or for our own gain.

Being engaged becomes invigorating and satisfying when we do them to please him only, in obedience.

I want to be engaged in doing good…do you?

Wise Builder

I Cor 3:10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it.

I love this verse. 

Jesus laid the foundation – his sacrifice – his love – his mercy – his forgiveness.

We are the builders who are building on that foundation.

But we must be oh SO CAREFUL.

We are not to lay another foundation, we are not to add to the foundation, and we are to be careful that we actually build on His foundation and not another’s.

Can you imagine starting a new house and being shown your slab, and then building on another’s foundation?  That would be absurd.

Jesus paid it all, he laid down his life, and that’s the foundation he’s given us.  We are to do the same.

Be careful how you build on that foundation, and make sure you are wise in all that you do.

Observe

I Chronicles 22:13 Then you will prosper, if you are careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances which the Lord commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be dismayed.

Here it is again – a promise of prosperity – if we obey.

And here’s what happens.  We obey what we think we’re supposed to do, and all hell breaks loose. We lose our job, our home is flooded, our kids are sick, and our dog runs away.  How is that prosperous?

We can still be prosperous even in the middle  of loss, because we know that all things work together for good.

If we obey him, if we’re strong and courageous and not fearful, we will be prosperous.

And sometimes…that prosperity is inside us…in the deep parts of our soul where immense growth is taking place…right in the middle of adversity.

Doing all you know to do?

Not feeling all that prosperous?

He says you will be prosperous, so believe it.  Let His spirit do its work in you, and all “these things” will fall into place.

Hold Fast

Joshua 22:5 Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Did you know it’s possible to be careful and obey without your heart and soul being in it?  Of course, you do.  We can all remember doing what our parents said to do, but hating every minute of it, and doing it with a sour face and hating them for not “letting” us do what others were doing.  The reason we felt that way was that we didn’t understand our parents and their “rules.” We thought they were just being mean.  And the fact is, some of them were mean!

However, God isn’t mean.  He is the definition of love.  And what he tells us to do is told to us out of love, for our good, and for our protection.

This verse says “hold fast to Him” and I think that’s the key.  We have to cling to the truth that he is a loving Father and there is no other way that leads to life except through Him.  When we truly believe that, then we obey with our heart and soul, and the sour face is lifted.