OT DAY 59 - God Demands Your Total Commitment (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)

Today's Reading: Genesis 17:20-27

** 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:

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Please click this link to read Genesis 17:20-27

English(ESV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis 17&version=ESV

Chinese: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=創 世 記 17&version=CUV

Bible Study

      I think one of the most critical crisis in today's Church is "commitment". Christians do not want to be tied up by commitments. It is funny that all Christians know that Jesus is Lord and be willing to have Jesus as our Lord. But, we do not want commitments!
      Today's passage not only talks about commitments. God talks about "total commitment". God demands total commitment! So, we need to listen carefully what it is about.  

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

    

     The story closes with Abraham's implementing the commission about circumcision, which will have been a monumental undertaking, but Genesis quite ignores all that.  Its interest lies in the quality of Abraham's obedience to God.  "On that very day," it twice notes.  "all" and "every" male was involved, it notes four times.  Twice it itemizes the way this commitment embraces people born within the household and people bought into it from outside.  One reason the Old Testament likes repetition is to draw attention to the total nature of the way people do what God says.  Abraham makes sure there are no mistakes and no exceptions.  He knows total commitment is necessary, and he sees total obedience happens. 

John Goldingay. Genesis for Everyone - Part Two. Louisville,KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010, p.15.

      What is the closest similar "total commitment" to you as compare to the "total commitment" of Abraham leading all his males to have circumcision? 

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: God demands your total commitment

    What I got from Jesus today is a very strong and clear demand from God. At first, I wanted to write "God requests your total commitment". But, Jesus told me clearly right away, "No, No, No! It is not a request. Request means that you have the right to choose. Demands means you do not have the right to choose. And, refusing to exercise God's demands means you are rebellious against God."

    Wow! That is a very strong word from our Lord Jesus Christ to me and to you!

    What is that "total commitment" Jesus is asking you to take action today?

    What would be the fruit if you are willing to do it courageously?

    What would be the consequence if you refuse to do God's demand? 

Dear Lord Jesus,

Help us to be able to understand you demand our total commitment. Lead us to be with you each day that we have the character and ability to accomplish your demand and be able to enjoy the fruit of Mission Accomplished. 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

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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