Saturday, September 24, 2005

Brother Michael's Devotional

"And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive,he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people." Genesis 14:14-16


During the first recorded war in the Bible, Lot, nephew to Abram is taken captive. When word is brought back to Abram of Lot's plight, Abram arms his trained servants and rescues Lot.
Now Lot was in a situation where he could not help himself. What he needed and what God provided for him is a rich relative to help him.
That is the same for you and I friend. Let us put it in a modern circumstance. Let us say that I have lost my job and am not able to pay the note on my home. Now let us also assume that I have two uncles, one very rich, and one very poor. That poor uncle can listen to my problem and sympathise with me but he is in no position to help me pay my mortgage. But it is a different story with my rich uncle. He is in a definite position to help me.
Now let us apply this to the spiritual realm. In Galations 6:1 we read "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." Friend, you and I are in no position to help our overtaken brother unless we like Abram are rich.
What we need is some practical sanctification in our lives if we intend to be a help in our brother's life. I am not talking about some emotional experience, but a daily walk with Almighty God. All of this requires work. Real practical sanctification requires daily study of the Word of God, daily prayer and obedience of the revealed will of God. This is the price you and I will have to pay if desire to help our brethren.