Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Tuesday January 05, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the book of Genesis chapters 13-15. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-january-5

Most people whether they are children of God or of man want the best possible life they can have, whether it be someone who is wealthy or poor. There are temptations all around us, urging us to say, “I can do better than what I have.” Now, there is nothing against wanting to be safe and sound in a comfortable home, neighborhood, etc., but when we see some of these poverty stricken areas, such as people living in cardboard boxes, under bridges, and in bug and rat invested shacks, then we all should be very blessed and ashamed of ourselves for complaining about what we do not have. While it is truly a blessing to receive rewards for all our hard work, life is not about getting that house, or that car, or that tv, it's about taking what we have and making the best out of it and setting examples for others by showing brotherly kindness to those less fortunate then ourselves. Abraham did not know what God had planned for him when He told him to take his wife five hundred miles away from his home and the rest of his family, but he put his faith and trust in Him, knowing that God never backs down on His promises. “And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai; Unto the place of the altar, which he had make there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.” - Genesis 13:1-4. Although God had told Abraham not to bring any family except for his wife, he brought his nephew Lot along. Now, if you are a Christian and you have ever spent time with family that is not than you can pretty much understand that their values are not the same as yours and you remember why you only see them once a year.

Well, as they journeyed to the promised land, Lot, unlike Abraham, who was living by faith, did not, and he only had faith in what he saw in front of him, this caused much strife between them. Abraham did not want any trouble so he suggested that the two go there separate ways. “And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.”- Genesis 13:6-13. When Lot saw the plains of Jordan and how beautiful the land was he did not think twice about choosing to go in that direction.

Little did Lot know that residing in Sodom would be the worse decision that he ever made, shortly after, a war began and Lot was captured. “And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations; That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar. All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.......... And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.” - Genesis 14:1-3,11,12 . You know, it can be really tough to see what others have and not wonder why we can not have what they have. The truth is this, God will not give anything to us if it is going to cause harm to us. So, why did Lot get captured? He captured because he was more worried about having material things in his life than having God in it. Yes, God's gift of free will says that we have the right to choose whether or not we want to follow Him or what the world has to offer. It's our choice and once we choose the latter, He is going to let go and let us see what it truly is like to live what we think is the better life. Oh, at times things seem like they are going great, but it only lasts for a short time before we are looking for something else that is a better life.

I will tell you that at one time in my life, I like Lot saw the temptations of the world and when I tasted it, it was great. However, the more I got the more I wanted, I had a house, a car, a good job, even what I thought was a good man. One by one those things disappeared and rather quickly too. In fact within a year I lost the house, the car, gave up the job, and all I had left was the man that was not so good after all. I was so depressed and sick all the time. God knew what I was going through, yet He allowed me to go through it and did not intervene until I personally went to Him and asked Called on Him and asked Him to forgive me and help me out of the mess that I had gotten myself into. Praise God! He did pull me up out of the pit that I dug myself into and although I am still suffering a bit from the mess that I created, I am forgiven and serving God and there is no better life than one with God in it. He will get you out of any situation, but the first thing you must do is Call on Him.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

Learn About Salvation Only Made Through Jesus Christ
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation