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The LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed ?
Abraham and his family has had and continues to have tremendous impact on history. It's amazing how much any family can potentially affect the future. But, when a man loses sight of God and His ways, the result is sad and ugly. Such a man will set his mind on the things of the flesh and his children will often follow his example in even worst ways. Abraham's nephew, Lot, set his mind on the things of the earth. He dwelt in Sodom among those who were focused on the flesh. His focus and the influence of that environment pulled his family away from the one true God. Lot's family suffered great loss and eventually became enemies of God.
"For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him."
Abraham lived in the land but did not fully embrace its culture or institutions. He and his family maintained a God focused identity that was separate from the beliefs, training and customs of the surrounding tribes. Abraham taught his children to follow the way of the Lord.
Wherever we live, the nations in which we and our families dwell are only too happy to teach our children to follow the way of the flesh. Sometimes the flesh gets all dressed up, becomes apparently intellectual, and looks very "civilized". The truth is that the death and destruction seen in Sodom and Gomorrah are always at the end of the road of the flesh. If one's family is not somewhat isolated from the worldly culture in which they live, it will be fully taught by that culture's message, teachers and relationships. Parents have the awesome choice. Lot's choice was the riches and friendships of Sodom and integration with culture. Abraham's choice was to follow God's call out of the world's culture and to find God's culture -- God's "way". We're "In" the world but what culture have we chosen to be "of".
"The mind set on the flesh is death but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace." -- Romans 8
A Couple of Links about the culture in the US.
Wherever we live, the nations in which we and our families dwell are only too happy to teach our children to follow the way of the flesh. Sometimes the flesh gets all dressed up, becomes apparently intellectual, and looks very "civilized". The truth is that the death and destruction seen in Sodom and Gomorrah are always at the end of the road of the flesh. If one's family is not somewhat isolated from the worldly culture in which they live, it will be fully taught by that culture's message, teachers and relationships. Parents have the awesome choice. Lot's choice was the riches and friendships of Sodom and integration with culture. Abraham's choice was to follow God's call out of the world's culture and to find God's culture -- God's "way". We're "In" the world but what culture have we chosen to be "of".
"The mind set on the flesh is death but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace." -- Romans 8
A Couple of Links about the culture in the US.
A good reminder. Thanks for taking the time to share!
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