Our preacher this month is Seth Horrell, with a message called, Exceedingly Fruitful, from Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16.
Life can often be like a garden maze, where hedges and bushes lead you around with a goal of making it through the maze. But there are times when we come to a dead end and are tempted to cheat, take a short cut through a bush opening. Abraham was like that, taking a short cut to fulfill the promise God has made to him.
Abraham saw no hope, no future, because he had no heir.
There are those who promote a “name it and claim it” theology, seeking God’s blessing… probably seeking the blessing more than the giver of the blessing.
Blessings often look different than we anticipate:
1. They are enough – they will meet your needs, not necessarily your desires.
2. They are for service rather than self – to be used to be a blessing to others.
3. They are generally spiritual and relational rather than materialistic.
4. They are to help develop us into disciples – which is the mark of a Jesus follower.
When God calls, how will you respond? What happens when there appears to be a dead end? Will you trust God? Or will you look for a short cut?