Responsibilities

Bible readings for the day: Genesis 20-21

Abraham's attitude is not always responsible, in particular often seek safety in the face of danger or conflict which eventually led to a bitter fruit, that he should expel Hagar, his mistress, and Ismail, own son (21:10-14).

As the head of household, Abraham should not simply follow her advice to take Hagar as a young wife, because it reflects the distrust of the ability of God fulfilled His promise to give Abraham descendants. Because Abraham did not dare to take responsibility in decision-making, not surprising that Abraham's confusion when his wife asked him to drive his young wife. If Abraham took responsibility as head of household who makes decisions, dilemmas (two difficult choices) of selecting a young wife or an old wives would not have happened.

In the structure of the Christian family, the husband is the head of the stairs that should lead in decision-making and should lead the whole family to follow the will of God. Although the husband and wife must work together in educating children, the responsibility remains in the hands of husbands. Wife is a companion to help her husband so her husband could carry out their responsibilities. If the husband is not responsible, the wife will occupy the position of the husband, and the decisions taken by the wife will be heavily influenced by an unstable feeling. If a wife wants her husband to carry out their responsibilities properly, he should always give support and encouragement to her husband.

Colossians 3:18
"Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord."

Who's Building Your Children?

Bible readings for the day: Genesis 19

Options Lot to settle in the city of Sodom was wrong because he's just the aspect of soil fertility (prosperity) and ignore the need for a good environment. As a result, pagan vision helped shape the views of children Lot (13:10,11, 19:31-32).

If people in ancient times, especially the aspect of soil fertility in choosing a place to live, people in the present, especially prioritizing business development facility, education, and entertainment, which also will also determine the price of land. From the beginning until now, rarely a priority there is spiritual development and a good environment for the children as the main criteria in choosing a place to live.

A lot of people wrong by assuming that our lives and our families is determined by the material, when in fact many factors that shape these lives. By prioritizing the material, Lot forget that the neighborhood will help shape the mindset of his children. After the city of Sodom and Gomorrah and the Jordan valley were destroyed by God with fire and brimstone, the two girls Lot felt that they had to connect the descendants of the family and the only way to have children is by having sex with their fathers because there is no other man can they meet. As a result, the older daughter gave birth to a boy named "Moab", ie the ancestor of Moab, and the younger gave birth to a boy named "Ben-Ami", the ancestor of the Ammonites. Both nations are hostile to Israel. It was horrible due to the influence of environment on the behavior of the daughters of Lot's family!

Proverbs 22:6
"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."

Boundaries of Faith

Bible readings for the day: Genesis 18

Abraham failed to ask for forgiveness for the city of Sodom because he did not dare to come out of the limits of his faith. If Abraham dared to ask for forgiveness on the understanding that God is full of grace, may God give forgiveness.

When God tells his plan to punish the city of Sodom, Abraham begged forgiveness on the basis of the righteous in the city. Unfortunately, Abraham allegations about the existence of the righteous in the city wrong. Abraham request rejected by God because the request is based on the supposition that do not match reality, namely that ten people were not really there in the city of Sodom was. Supposition ten righteous is the faith of Abraham limits based on rational considerations. Should limit our faith is not determined by rational considerations, but by the grace of God. We ask not because we deserve to receive what we ask for, but we ask for on the understanding that God is full of grace.

What is limiting your faith. If you're sick and prayed for God to heal, if you set limits on who can and diseases that can not be healed by God? Does God only can cure the common cold? Does God also can cure cancer, kidney, heart, bird flu and swine flu? Does God can help in financial trouble? Does God understands and can provide a solution to the problem of life friend? Does God live only help when we've considered good by God? Does your faith is limited?

Ephesians 3:20
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."