The G.O.A.T.
The greatest of all time was the One who came to serve and save.
“Yahweh appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre…Where is Sarah, your wife?” He said, “There, in the tent.” He said, “I will certainly return to you at about this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son…Sarah heard in the tent door…Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old will I have pleasure, my Lord being old also?”…The men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before Yahweh. Abraham came near, and said, “Will you consume the righteous with the wicked?…Yahweh went his way as soon as he had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.”
Genesis 18:1, 9-12, 22-24, 26, 33
The Lord is looking for righteous people. Not self-righteous people who think they are good because of their actions, rather people who choose to follow righteous Savior.
All of us, even Abraham and Sarah had their doubts. Sarah laughs out loud at God doing what she thinks cannot be done and then she lies about it. The Bible is full of imperfect people being pursued by a perfect God for His perfect will. Do you feel like your plans have passed you by or you are not good enough to be used by God? Go ahead and laugh like Sarah. Be honest, then be open to seeing what God will do to bring His name glory.
“I love you, Yahweh, my strength. Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower…I call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised…He delivered me, because he delighted in me…For you will light my lamp, Yahweh. My God will light up my darkness…As for God, his way is perfect”
Psalms 18:1-3, 19-21, 25, 28, 30, 35, 49
How would you describe God? Do you know him as your strength? Your rock? Your shield? David loves the Lord and out of that love he can describe all the ways he has received God’s love. It is good for your soul to sing out praises to God. We were made to worship. To say God’s ways are perfect does not mean without pain. It is to say His way is the only way that aligns with His will for us.
“Yahweh’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe…Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility…The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge…Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:10, 12, 15, 21
The expression price comes before the fall has been shown to be true throughout history. Where is pride influencing my thinking? Jesus said blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom. Humility says that God’s ways are higher than my ways.
“For Yahweh said to me, “I will be still, and I will see in my dwelling place, like clear heat in sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.” Isaiah 18:4
When was the last time you took a flight on a plane and broke through the clouds to see the perspective from up high? God’s sees beyond what we can see with the clouds that clear our line of sight. Jesus is constantly calling us to look up and look out. To raise our expectations and believe that God is able to do something greater in our lives as we draw closer.
“In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus called a little child…I tell you, unless you turn and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven…it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one…should perish. Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I don’t tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:1-4, 14, 21-22
It must have been humbling when Sarah became pregnant and she realized that God was right and she had been wrong. Imagine how much joy she could have experienced in her life if she had believed from the moment God had planted the promise with Abram that they would have a child and never let go. Children have an amazing way of believing boldly. They also happen to laugh more and live more freely.
Jesus always starts with helping us free our hearts so we can believe boldly God’s bold plans. Ask God what you need to know and where you have let go of a promise He has for you.