Life Development Toolbox - May 06
In this issue
-- Genesis 26:1-6
-- Verses 7-11
-- Verses 12-16
-- Verses 17-18
-- Verses 19-25
-- Toolbox Quotes
Welcome to the latest edition of the Life Development Toolbox. This month we are looking at Genesis 26, drawing lessons from it for today's living.
Genesis 26:1-6
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A time to stay in the land of famine, which was also foreign soil. For some
the attraction is always to be in the thick of the action, where things are
happening and are exciting. For others the desire is the easy life well away
from problems and difficulties. For the committed Christian the place has
to be where God has called us whatever the implications.
Hearing the voice of God for direction. In Revelation 2 and 3, there is that
repeated cry, “He who has an ear to hear, let him hear.” The implication
is that not every ear is open to hear God’s voice. For direction in
life, we can use the advice of others, our own gut instincts, common sense,
experience etc. – and God will use such things to shape our responses
if we are first and foremost resigned to His will. His will however must always
take precedence over those considerations.
Trusting in your heritage (calling) and in God’s word spoken years ago. Hope deferred makes the heart sick , Proverbs 13:12 assures us. As years go by, our patience and trust in what God has said is tried and tested. Look again at the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37. Andrew Shearman spoke some years ago on this. His question was, “What do these bones represent?” See them as your hopes and dreams, things God has said to you in the past. The question and challenge is – can these bones live?
Verses 7-11
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Beware the lapse of faith in what God has said! Like father like son! Abraham
had done just the same – God’s grace however is ours in abundance
and there is always a way back for you and me.
Deception is not a good alternative. Using the tools of the world is like
going on holiday in a stock car banger, rather than a top range Lexus! Check
out 1 Peter 1:7 and see how much better a tool our faith is. What other tools
has God supplied for our use?
God’s overall care in spite of our lapses. At what point does God have enough of us and turn His back? Are you in danger of running God’s stock of grace and love dry?!
Verses 12-16
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God blesses us when we are in the place He has ordained for us. At Pentecost
the disciples had to be there to receive – if they had gone fishing,
they would have missed out!
Increase must also have involved hard work! Reading between the lines is OK!
God does not give success to us in the workplace without our hard work!
Opposition will come from envy. Our lifeblood will always be threatened. The world is always uncomfortable when God’s people live according to His ways. We cannot stop others from being envious of our successes. What we can do is make sure we have the right spirit and attitude when it happens. Our first thoughts will probably be of irritation and defensive posturing. Confrontation will rear it’s ugly head if we let it. Jesus however was never threatened by such behaviour and we are directed by the word of God to do good to those who misuse us.
Verses 17-18
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When we are disrupted, the return to known and familiar paths is attractive.
The alternative to faith which pleases God is the pathway of experience which
leads to living in the past. Attractive because it doesn’t require our
stepping into the unknown!
Being true to your parents faith and experience is praiseworthy but is second
hand. If you don’t live by faith, your children can’t even copy
yours! If they do, there comes a time when that is no longer sufficient for
them – they need to develop their own faith in God. That is the time
to support and encourage them with the discernment, wisdom and grace that
only God’s Holy Spirit can supply.
Verses 19-25
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There comes a time to dig your own wells – a time for perseverance.
As we persevere God will make room for us. How do you deal with disappointment
and discouragement? Your best laid plans are left in ruins from some unexpected
development, or the activity of others. How do you keep on track? There are
times when we need to reaffirm our faith in God and dig another well! Draw
the strength and resilience you need from God to keep on going. Don’t
understand why it has happened? God is building character and right responses
and attitudes in you – making you into the image of His Son!
Our own covenant with God must be established. There comes a time for our
own vision and calling. Isacc here calls on the name of the Lord, in his own
right. He steps out of his father Abraham’s shadow and establishes his
own calling in God. He takes up the baton and begins to run his own race with
his own word and calling from God. Time perhaps for you too – to take
another step in God and make your life for Him as never before
Toolbox Quotes
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History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered
heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused
to become discouraged by their defeats. B. C. Forbes
Digging is hard work, but it is necessary if we want to see the springs of
life return. The church needs to begin digging for a new dedication to God.
Gene Easley
Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm. Winston Churchill
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