journey onWord with us

As I look back on the first week of 2012, I am pleased with some of my choices. Not all, but some! There were no French fries or hamburgers on my plate. I drank more water and even some cranberry juice. I used my YMCA membership as more than a charitable donation, and felt good about my Bible reading (although I used Saturday to catch up). Certainly, some of my choices were not thought out or handled the best, but overall not a bad week. You can probably relate to my choice-filled first week. But for all of us, it’s off to a new week, with more choices. Let your energy, goals and desire for a great year still be as fresh as if they were on the first day of the new year.

It was about 2090 B.C. and things were a lot different from 2012 A.D. Abram had a choice when he was called by God to leave his homeland and follow God “to the land I will show you.” He could follow the leading of God to leave his country and family, or simply choose to stay. He obeyed and history was shaped by that decision. Just like you and I, Abram made some good choices, and not so good ones along the journey. I was especially struck in my reading this morning that in the same chapter, (Genesis 12), we find Abram being faith filled, but following, to being fearful and selfish. After leaving his homeland and eventually getting to the Promised Land, a famine overtakes the land and Abram goes to down to Egypt.

Once there, he throws his wife Sarai under the bus (before there were buses). Because he was afraid of Pharaoh, Abram made a selfish, fearful choice.

As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.” 

What a rascal! Even though he was telling a half-truth because Sarai was his half-sister, the intent was to deceive. His short-sighted choice created a mess.

Although his choices had more far-reaching impact, I see so much of my life (and yours) paralleling Abram’s. Fast forward to the second week of 2012, and the choices will be plentiful. Eating french fries and hamburgers or broccoli and chicken, reading His Word or ruling my own life, holding on to anger or forgiving, shading the truth or being honest, letting work dominate or honoring our families, are just a few of the myriad of choices that will confront us this week and every other week of 2012. If you and I refuse to live with a quiet center that helps us gain God’s perspective, too many of our choices will be looked back upon with regret. The good news is that God has made His perspective available to us.

Thousands of years have passed since the events of Genesis 12. Abram, who eventually was named Abraham, is known as the “friend of God”. His life of faith and trust overshadowed some of the shortsighted wrong choices he made along the way. Our lives will also be known for the choices we make. It’s still early in 2012, and we all have an opportunity to live it with God’s perspective on the choices we make. Start, or continue today!