And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. Genesis 14:15 (ESV)
This is quite amazing, Abram moved in active and confident faith in God. He was bold in pursuing this army which had recently defeated many peoples including slaying giants.
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” Genesis 15:1 (ESV)
God is our defence and our great treasure and reward. We should trust in and rejoice in him as such.
And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6 (ESV)
Like Abram we must put our trust in God’s word
And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half. Genesis 15:10 (ESV)
This was a common covenant made between men as partners in some business or enterprise at the time, God was saying here that he was very serious about keeping his promise to Abram, this should have filled Abram with assurance and strengthened his faith
And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: Matthew 11:4 (ESV)
What Jesus did and said authenticated him as the promised Messiah
From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. Matthew 11:12 (ESV)
Since the days of John the Baptist Gods kingdom has suffered oppression and resistance by violent men. This should serve as a reminder for us to pray for those imprisoned for the Gospel that they would not lose faith.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Matthew 11:27 (ESV)
It is Gods gracious will for us as his elect to know the truth and it is only through Jesus choosing us that the Father is revealed to us that we may know him. We should thank God that we have been elected by his grace.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29 (ESV)
We should joyfully take on the yoke of discipleship under Jesus. In this we will find rest for our souls. All other efforts are futile and too heavy to bear (the wight of legalism or the slavery of open sin). Jesus is our gentile teacher.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV)
God has given al men an inner knowing that life continues after death.
also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man. Ecclesiastes 3:13 (ESV)
God has given us this life to enjoy with him.
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