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."

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."

Struggling to Interest People

Bible readings for the day: Genesis 14-15

Although Abraham is basically a peace-loving, the greatness of character when he appeared 318 people mobilized his men to fight for liberating Lot, his nephew, of the enemy prisoners.

The character of Abraham who love peace (tend to always avoid arguments) visible from a few events. First, as his servants and servants of Lot fight, he decided to split from Lot to avoid problems. He also invited Lot to choose the place (13:1-12). Second, the beauty she has the potential to invite trouble, he chose to ask his wife claimed to be his brother (12:11-13). Third, when Sara was desperate to ask Abraham married Hagar in order to have a child, he went along (16:1-6), so he must have a deep sadness when he had to expel Hagar and Ishmael, Abraham's son from his marriage to Hagar (21:9-14).

Abraham's character that always avoid arguments as described above, it is surprising that Abraham dared to lead his people to fight against the king's army and Kedorlaomer allies kings (14:1-16). His affection to Lot, his nephew, made Abraham able to overcome his fears. This epic story of Abraham is a reproach to us that says to love your wife or husband or children or the poor or the church, but not willing to fight to realize that love. When the love of God is in our hearts, it's natural if we dare to take risks to fight for the people we love!

1 John 4:18
"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

Don't Occupying God's Position!

Bible readings for the day: Genesis 10-11

Human hubris that want to make a tower that reached to the heavens peak (11:4) reflects an arrogant attitude, it is also resistance to the commandment of God to men to fill the earth (1:28).

Sin often happens because people do not realize that his creation is lesser than God. Satan's temptation of Eve (3:1-5), the temptation to eat the fruit of knowledge of good and evil, is the temptation to equate degrees with God.

Many of the sins and problems that originated from the attitude of God wants to occupy the position. For example, someone who kills another accidentally had established himself as one who has the authority to take the rights of other people's lives, and the authority to take someone's life right is the authority of God. Similarly, a revenge himself has taken the rights possessed by God to judge and punish (cf. Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:19, Hebrews 10:30)

One form of resistance to the authority of God is the attitude of complaining or protesting the existence of self. When we protested why we are born in poor condition or in a state of disability, we inadvertently assume that we ourselves have the right to be rich or have the right to be born in perfect condition, so we are not directly blame the God who formed us from the womb since our mother (Psalm 139:13). If we accept the authority of God over us, we will have peace.

Luke 1:51
"He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts"

Stick to the Faithfulness of God

Bible readings for the day: Genesis 8-9

Although the destruction of nature have been made everywhere there natural disasters, including floods, we can believe that there will be no flood as big as in the days of Noah's flood covering the whole earth, because God is faithful to his promise.

The tsunami that ravaged Aceh has made many people wonder whether the flood that occurred in the days of Noah will be repeated again. The word "tsunami" comes from Japanese, "tsu" which means "harbor" and "nami" which means "wave". The tsunami was coming events of high sea waves suddenly and very quickly to the coastal area some time after an earthquake, volcanic eruption, or landslide on the ocean floor.

In addition because of the tsunami, flooding can also be caused by high rainfall in the catchment area the water is reduced, either due to deforestation and uncontrolled because of changes in land designation, for example, from water catchment areas turned into a settlement. Another factor that makes the flood continued to occur is the global warming that makes many icebergs melt and sea levels rise. At present, the flood is one of the main dangers which threaten human life.

In these situations, if we still can trust God's promise that will not happen again as the great flood occurred in the days of Noah (9:11)? Yes, we can be confident that God would keep His promises. Earth is approaching destruction (2 Peter 3:10) and the flood would still be happening, but the flooding that occurs will not cover the whole earth as the days of Noah! [P]

Numbers 23:19
"God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?"

Hope in Recovery

Bible readings for the day: Genesis 3

Understanding that the fall of Adam and Eve into sin has made all men are born in a state of sin is something sad. Instead, our hope is that the recovery will occur later when the Lord Jesus comes back.

In common sense, we can see that all people are born with a variety of similarities with their parents, not just the physical side, but also from the character. In terms of theology, Christians believe that human beings are born in sin because of human sinfulness inherited Adam (Romans 5:12). Note that the man (Adam) was created in the image and likeness of God (1:26-27; 5:1), but Seth, the son of Adam, born, according to appearance and image of Adam (5:3). Adam was created in a state of innocence, but because Adam and Eve had fallen into sin, his descendants were born in the image of Adam and Eve had fallen into sin.

Because humans are born in a state of sin, not surprising that in this world there are many crimes. Strict law could reduce crime, but never can eliminate crime. In a country run by very strict laws were always going against the law.

Before the Lord Jesus came for the second time, crime will continue to exist in this world. Only after the Lord Jesus to come back to this world to give the new body that no longer have the inclination to sin, to punish Satan and his followers, and establish a new heaven and new earth, then we can have freedom from sin and evil.

Revelation 21:4
"And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death no more; there will be no more mourning or wailing, or sorrow, for all that time has passed.".