Christ Church Daily Devotion May 5 2024

The Daily Devotion for May 5th, 2024 focuses on Genesis 12:1-3. God tells Abram to leave his country and promises to make him a great nation and bless him. God also promises to bless those who bless Abram and curse those who curse him. The sermon emphasizes that these verses are important for understanding our purpose as God's people. God wanted to establish a people who would represent Him and bless all people. Even though Jesus completed the work of offering a blessing to the world, our mission as representatives of God continues. We should learn from the successes and failures of those who came before us and stay connected to the Holy Spirit. The sermon encourages listeners to be a living sanctuary for God and to bless others through their actions. Welcome to Christchurch's Daily Devotion for May 5th, 2024. Today we will be reading from Genesis, chapter 12, verses 1 through 3. The Lord had said to Abram, Go from your country, your people, and your father's household to the land I will show you. 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 a blessing through you. Today and next Sunday in our worship services, I am focusing on some foundational passages and stories from the Bible. Today we are focusing on the Old Testament. For me, these verses from Genesis are a key for our understanding of who we are as a people of God. Our purpose and mission in this world go back to this initial covenant God established with Abraham and Sarah. God was seeking to establish a people who would represent God in the world. Through these people, God wanted to bless all of the people of the earth. Throughout the Bible, God continually chose to work through people to accomplish God's purposes. And even though God completed the work of offering a blessing to the whole world through Jesus Christ, our Lord still left the continuing mission to people. You and I stand in that line of those who seek to represent this God. As we study the Scriptures, we hopefully learn from both the sins and the successes of those who were supposed to be representing God in those times. And hopefully, we are still learning from both in our times. I often pray, Lord, help us stay so connected to you that we can help others come to know you. Never forget that. Though we can learn from the sins and successes of others, our best guide for representing God is the Holy Spirit. So, stay connected to this Spirit and bless you for the many ways you allow God to bless others through you. Your personal worship option today, offer this simple chorus as your prayer today. Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary pure and holy, tried and true. With Thanksgiving, I'll be a living sanctuary for you.