Helenmm

Obedience to God (as an expression of my faith in Him) provides me with His protection from evil (as in deliver us from evil). This is wonderful as it brings me into the great reward. The exceedingly great reward. When I was a child, all I wanted for my birthdays was a pony. My family were deliberately not into ponies, so I was disappointed. I don't altogether know why this thought came to mind in answer to this question. Perhaps there will be no disappointments in Heaven, only joy, (I don't know about ponies!) I do know it will be wonderful to know God, and be able to explore Him for ever. God as my Suzerain is very secure. There will always be understanding and justice. His law is the Truth laid down before creation, and that is a mighty concept to me. To obey His law is my connection to Truth, the law of God, the way things work and were designed. To honour His law is my connection to the eternal, through the blood of Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace. I am rooted and founded in love, from which the law was issued, (love God............ Love one another as I have loved you). I am living in a wonderfully sound structure, and am confident of all its outworkings. More than that, I am it's expression - the expression of love, by the grace of God, on the face of this earth. I have a wonderful task and purpose to my life, which gives me joy and peace in all circumstances. Nothing can touch me. Holy is the Lord!

Abram had lifted his hand and promised God that he would take no spoils. His faith in God was so complete that he did not think twice about this. Something of trust (faith) had passed between him and God that was far too precious for him to break. His amazing relationship with God was much more important to him than a few spoils from Sodom. This demonstrates that Abram's word was Abram's bond. This is a thing we'd love to see more of today - even among Christians! God said "Let your yea be yea and your nay be nay." We are not to swear by anything that is in Heaven of earth. What meaning does it have anyway if our word can be broken? We should not swear by the Bible. With us it should be yes or no, and people (including our children) should be able to know we mean business. Oh for such faith between Christians!

By freely offering the tithe to Melchisedek, Abram is expressing a (Holy Spirit?) recognition that He is God, and this is an opportunity to defer to Him in a real way. He is expressing his feelings about God, and also his thanksgiving for all that God is to him, and has done for him. He is showing practically his longing for unity with God, and well as giving expression to his fear and awe of God. God's acceptance of his offering must have created a most beautiful moment between them.

Abraham's military expedition shows a high degree of organisation, great loyalty to family (Lot was his only blood relative), and complete lack of fear here. In other places he had reason to fear, but here he did not. Therefore one might assume that he was a good judge of the strength of the other man. He was not a man to be messed with and had an army to say so, not double minded - a decision was a decision, a clever strategist (his plan against the kings went smoothly and effectively). With neighbours he was a most reasonable man - until they crossed him. Then they knew all about him, that he didn't put up with fools lightly. We need to value family as highly as Abram, even to the point of putting life at risk. We should be well organised in our own lives, and be able to see clearly what we are up against - assess the risks. We need to be of one mind, decisive, and to have strategies to accomplish all we set out to do. We should not put up with foolish behaviour, even though we love our enemies.