OT DAY 53 - Don't Belittle God's Servants (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)

Today's Reading: Genesis 16:4b-7

** If you would like to learn a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please read my “Count Down 5” from my Devotion on Fire blog:

http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html

To use this simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please click this link:

 .Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf

Please click this link to read Genesis 16:4b-7

English(ESV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis 16&version=ESV

Chinese: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=創 世 記 16&version=CUV

Bible Study

      Today's passage is a sad turning point of Abram's family. When someone messes up God's plan like what Sarai and Abram did, someone is going to hurt.   This time, all party of three were in a mess. More than that, a servant/slave suddenly thought that she could get into her master's wife control seat, forgetting that Abram got a promise from God. Do you remember what kind of promise did God give to Abram?  

Let's take a look at what Professor John Goldingay says (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Goldingay) :

    

     So Sarah's image about "being built up" is a telling one. Further, there is a similarity in the word for "build up" and the word for "son,' a similarity the Old Testament sometimes makes use of.  Sarah hopes to be "sonned up."  What actually happens is that she is put down, not built up.  Hagar is the second-class wife, but she has the functioning womb, which rather makes her first-class.  She is in a position to look down on Sarah.  The words are again chilling.  God had promised to curse anyone who belittles Abraham (Genesis 12:3). Is Hagar risking God's curse?    

John Goldingay. Genesis for Everyone. Louisville,KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010, p.185-186.

      How sad it is in Hagar's case. She had a chance to rise up from a servant/slave to a second class wife, that is a big jump! But, she lost that chance because of pride. Pride blinding her eyes so that she belittled God's servant's wife and that is belittle Abram. What a waste! 

Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage we have just read. Offer this time up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe":  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmax47l2hLU

Spiritual Journal

    The title I heard from Jesus today is: Don't belittle God's servants

    What I got from Jesus today is a warning to all of us. It is so easy for Christians to belittle God's servants. I have been belittled many times and it hurt me and my family!

    The worst thing is, those who belittle God's servants always think that they are helping God to do some right things. They do not understand God will bless those who bless Abram, and will curse those who curse Abram. This rule of blessing and cursing could apply to all God's servants. 

    Please, don't belittle God's servants! 

Dear Lord Jesus,

Help us to love and respect your servants. Lead us to pray for them, protect them so that our church will be a healthy church. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

    Please click this link to the app. Andy Ng wrote. You really need to use that if you have an Android cel. Andy said he is going to do the App. for iPhone later:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ideal.rec.app

Please click this link to worship with us -

從心合一

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJWZQyLzDRQ

Amazing Grace My Chains are Gone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbe7OruLk8I

You may choose to follow my other daily blog: 

Daily Devotion on Fire 2(2 years plan -One year New Testament, one year Old Testament): 

http://bishopsilas2.blogspot.ca/

Daily Devotion on Fire (3 years and 3 months plan, one chapter a day to finish reading the whole Bible): 

http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/

Break.Build (40 days daily devotion- For Renewal or First Step for new Christians): http://www.breakbuild.blogspot.ca/

Emmanuel330 (40 weeks First Step Bible Study): 

http://emmanuel330.blogspot.ca/

This blog:

Discipler 123 (Daily devotion using N.T. Wright's NT for Everyone as source)

http://discipler123.blogspot.ca/

Rev. Nicky Gumbel's daily devotion: Bible in One Year

http://www.htb.org.uk/bioy