A CHILD OF ABRAHAM?: OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL, 19TH MAY 2018

MEMORISE:
Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
Galatians 3:7

READ: John 8:39-43

39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

MESSAGE

The Bible documents several declarations of God's covenant promises and blessings to Abraham, which are intended to overflow to his children (Genesis 17:2, Genesis 12:2-3, Genesis 22:16-18).

Although God spoke these words to Abraham several thousands of years ago, generations from that period till now have continue to see His pronouncements manifest in very dramatic fashion. Let us consider two of God's pronouncements on Abraham. In Genesis 12:2-3, He said:

“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

Also in Genesis 22:17-18, God said:

“That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed…”

The fulfilment of these words in the lives of Abraham's direct descendants (the Jews) and in the lives of Christians, who are partakers of these promises by adoption, has resulted in a situation where people from all nations seek to be numbered among Abraham's children.

However, claiming to be one of Abraham's children does not conference this status on anyone; only fulfilling the necessary requirements does. Romans 9:6-7 explains that in the sight of God, not even all of those who descended from Abraham biologically are children of Abraham for the purpose of receiving God's covenant blessings.

Being a child of Abraham does not come through genetic connections. Galatians 3:7 tells us what confers this status on a person:

“Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.”

You can therefore see that it is only men and women of faith that are true children of Abraham, and so only they are recipients of Abraham's blessings. In other words, faith is what qualifies a person to inherit Abraham's blessings. Are you truly one of Abraham's children?

The word of God in Galatians 3:6-9 tells us that irrespective of whether you re Jew or a Gentile, rich or poor, male or female, white, black or brown, old or young, you can become one of Abraham's children and gain access to the blessings promised to them if only you live by faith.

Some may ignore or reject this truth because they have no idea of what it means to be a child of Abraham, or because they see no value in the awesome blessings promised to Abraham's children. This attitude is not surprising, because the things of the Spirit of God are foolishness to the ordinary person (1 Corinthians 2:14).

I pray that the Lord will open your eyes to the truth of His word so that you can gain access to all of your inheritance in God in the mighty Name of Jesus.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, impart my spirit with faith to appropriate all of my blessings You in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Samuel 14, 2 Peter 2.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 10: MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE

1. My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Saviour divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away,
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!

2. May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh, may my love to Thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be,
A living fire!

3. While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be Thou my guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside.

4. When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold, sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll;
Blest Saviour, then in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!