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One Man's Sin: Long Term Consequences Nov 12 2009
"For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not." - Romans 7:18
Very often, we rationalize sin by thinking nobody will be hurt...it's no big deal. But sin has a way of having lasting consequences. Do you know the origin of the Middle East conflict? It goes back to the sin of one man, Abraham, the father of three faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
God promised to bless Abraham and his wife, Sarah, with a son He would use to build a great nation. Because they were very old, Sarah suggested to Abraham that he sleep with her younger maidservant, and have their child through her. This was a legally acceptable solution, but it wasn't in God's will. The servant gave birth to Abraham's first son, Ishmael. Abraham's wife became resentful, and the maidservant and Ishmael fled to the desert.
But God eventually gave Abraham and Sarah the son He promised--Isaac. From Isaac, came the Jews and Israel; from Ishmael came the Arabs. The descendants of these two sons of Abraham have been in conflict ever since. One man's sin--long-term consequences. So let's trust God and do right.
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4 Comments
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Yes, report it NevermindThe devotion today is correct, and these people have been fighting ever since those two became grown men. I believe they will still be fighting when the Lord comes back. Peace talks will not help anything, it all goes back to the fact that two people didn't wait on God to emplement his plan. God bless everyone.
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Yes, report it NevermindCertainly prophetic, and describes what we see today:
The angel of the LORD also said to her: "You are now with child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard of your misery. He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers." Genesis 16:11-12.
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Yes, report it NevermindI don't think that we can "stand on the sidelines" in this age old conflict. After all as Christians, we were "wild olive branches grafted into the true olive tree" (Judaism) by our Jewish Messiah, who came to save all men of all ethnicity who would believe on his name. By this, we became heirs of the New Covenant.
There are actually two wars going on in the Middle East today. The first is that of today's message. The second is the "war on terror", which we have undertaken.
These "wars" in the Middle East now includes us. However, as a nation we didn't enter these wars under the banner of Jesus Christ, but under the banner of a secular humanist society that itself is rejecting Jesus Christ more and more everyday.
Many of our men and women engaged are Christians, but they are not there to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. I pray for them daily. In this cosmic war, we who read and believe our Bibles are assured of the final outcome. But, the way will be increasingly bloody and painful for us too.
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Yes, report it NevermindWhen I read today's devotion I thought, "Is there no hope?" And then I thought, "Jesus". God's supernatural way of reconciling sinful people to Himself and others. He is the only way! What have people got to lose by believing in Jesus? Only God's judgement of their past sin, their hostility and hatred of others and their unforgiving attitudes. God is love and with Jesus in us we can find love for people that we did not think was possible. Jesus makes all things possible. He is so great and worthy of praise! He came to be a Savior for all the descendants of Isaac and Ishmael. We need to pray for the peace only Jesus can bring.