March 3 I Wednesday

Numbers 26-28

Mark 8

“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”  —Genesis 12:2-3

The Lord said the opening verse of this devotion to Abram as a promise. We may assume the latter part of the blessings about “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” is referring to Abram, which is true. Yet, there is one particular descendant from Abram that the Lord is alluding to—Christ. 

       When we turn to the New Testament, John’s recording of the Gospel helps us understand the blessing that was promised to Abram and how it connects with Christ. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His One and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Christ came to save the world, to offer all peoples on earth a blessing, if they choose to receive His gift of salvation.

       John 3:17-18 continues, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s One and only Son.” This mirrors the promise given to Abram when he was presented with the choice to follow God, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse.” We come to understand that whoever embraces Christ lives under the blessing of God, and whoever rejects Christ lives under the curse of God. 

       When we choose to receive Christ, He invites us to leave the ways of this world. John records, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives for ever” (1 John 2:15-17).

       The world is driven by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life to establish a great name for oneself. When we choose to follow the ways of the world, our only outcome is eternal separation from God. We cannot cling to this world and choose Christ, hoping to get the best of both worlds. That is impossible. We must make a firm decision. Although our resolve to follow Christ will require us to leave our ways, our culture and our own identity, in Christ we are given a new identity, a new family and a power to live differently.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, I choose to receive You as the Lord of my life. I surrender my ways, my culture and even my own identity to follow You. Thank You, Lord.