17 Feb 2018, Gen 18 创18章, The Friend of God 神的朋友

Posted on Jan 31, 2018 in Devotions, Genesis |

Scripture Reading        : Gen 18

Theme                            : The Friend of God

 

Resting  (1).

Resting in the afternoon is a normal practice in the East, and don’t forget that Abraham was nearly a hundred years old. Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is take a nap! The believer’s body is God’s temple and must be cared for (1 Cor. 6:19–20). (See Mark 6:31.)

Serving (2–8).

Abraham had no trouble noticing the pilgrims because it was unusual for people to travel in the heat of the day. The visitors were two angels and the Lord Jesus Christ, in one of His preincarnation appearances. Even though he had 318 servants, Abraham served Him personally, and fourteen times he called Him “Lord.” Abraham ran from place to place to make certain the meal they were preparing was the very best.

Listening (9–15).

Abraham stood nearby as the visitors ate, ready to serve them whatever they wanted. But the Lord gave Abraham something better than food: He announced that the promised son would be born within the year. “Where is Sarah your wife?” is the last of three key questions in Genesis (3:9; 4:9; 18:9). The question “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” has been answered by Job (Job 42:2), Jeremiah (Jer. 32:17), and Gabriel (Luke 1:37).

Interceding (16–33).

Because Abraham was both the friend of God and the servant of God, he shared God’s secrets. (See Ps. 25:14; John 15:15; James 2:23.) Lot had been rescued by Abraham’s intervention (chap. 14); now he would be rescued by Abraham’s intercession. Abraham prayed for the city on the basis of the justice of God, but God saved Lot on the basis of His mercy and grace (19:16, 19). Interceding for the lost and for needy saints is a high and holy privilege that we must not neglect. [1]

 

Praying the Scripture

  1. When Abraham and Sarah were “as good as dead,” God gave them a child. At that time, it was crystal clear that there is nothing they could do but to trust God. How many times does the Lord have to bring us to such a situation in order for us to learn the lesson of trusting God? The Bible asks, “Is anything too hard for the LORD? (Gen 18:14) Obviously not. Let’s pray that we don’t have to be in this dire situation to learn this lesson.
  1. Sometime we wonder why God chose Abraham to be the father of faith? Gen18:19 gives us the reason: “For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” (Gen 18:19) The Lord chose Abraham and wanted him to COMMAND his children and household to keep God’s command. Abraham is willing. How about us? Let’s pray that we are willing.
  1. How did Abraham pray for the city God was going to punish? He knew God and relied on God’s nature, character (righteousness) and promise to pray for them. (Gen 18:25) Do you know God enough to pray for the people around you?

 

[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, With the Word Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), Ge 18:1.

 
 
 

经文：创18章

主题：神的朋友

 

休息（1）

午休，在东方是常见的，不要忘了此时亚伯拉罕已近一百岁了。有时，最属灵的事莫过于睡一个小觉！信徒的身子就是圣灵的殿，我们必须好好照顾自己。（林前6:19-20；可6:31）

事奉 (2–8)

亚伯拉罕轻易地就注意到这些旅客，因为人们在大热天出行是一件不寻常的。这拜访者就是两位天使和主耶稣基督（基督降世之前的化身）。尽管亚伯拉罕有318个仆人，亚伯拉罕仍然自己接待客人，更称他们为“主”14次。亚伯拉罕忙忙碌碌就是为了确保为他们所准备的饭菜是最好的。

聆听 (9–15)

亚伯拉罕站在旅客的身边随时侍候他们。但主赐给亚伯拉罕比食物更好的东西：祂宣告，神所承诺的儿子将在一年内诞生。 “你妻子撒拉在那里？”是创世记三个关键问题的最后一个。（3:9，4:9，18:9） “耶和华岂有难成的事？”这个问题已通过约伯（伯42:2）、耶利米（耶32:17）、加百列（路加福音1:37）解答了。

祈求 (16–33)

因为亚伯拉罕是神的朋友和仆人，所以神与他分享心事。 （见诗25:14；约15:15；雅2:23）罗得曾经因亚伯拉罕而获救（14章）；现在他将因亚伯拉罕的祷告而再次获救。亚伯拉罕按神的公义为全城祷告，但神却因着祂自己的怜悯和恩典拯救了罗得。（19:16）为迷失和有需要的圣徒祈祷，是我们不能忽视的一个崇高和神圣的特权。

 

用经文祷告

  1. 当亚伯拉罕和撒拉的身子“如同死了”时，神赐给他们一个孩子。他们很清楚，除了相信神，什么也做不了。神到底需要把我们带到这种地步多少次，我们才会学习信靠神呢？圣经问:“耶和华岂有难成的事？”（创18:14）显然没有的。让我们祈祷神不要让我们临到这样悲惨的局面才学会信靠神。
  1. 有时候我们或许会想为什么神拣选亚伯拉罕成为信心之父呢？创18:19告诉了我们原因：“我眷顾他，为要叫他吩咐他的众子和他的眷属遵守我的道，秉公行义，使我所应许亚伯拉罕的话都成就了。”（创18:19）主拣选了亚伯拉罕，并要他吩咐他的孩子和家庭遵守神的命令。亚伯拉罕愿意这么做。那我们呢？让我们祷告，我们也愿意这么做。
  1. 亚伯拉罕是如何为这些神将要惩罚的城市祷告呢？他真正的认识神，并依照神的本性、属性（公义）和应许为他们祷告。 （创18:25）你是否足真正的认识神，使你可以为身边的人祷告呢？