2017 Belmont University Lenten Devotional GuideSample

In so many instances and in so many ways we see the faithfulness and the provision of our
loving God. In Genesis 24 we see just one instance of God’s faithfulness His word. God
had previously promised to make Abraham a great nation, bless him abundantly and bless
others through him. Having lived a long blessed life, Abraham was determined to see his
son married to the right person. He knew that if Isaac continued the life of obedience and
loyalty to God that had been modeled for him that he and his descendants too would
be blessed. God yet again shows himself as Abraham’s faithful provider by answering the
prayer of his servant. This most trusted servant was determined to fulfill his commitment to
his master and find the perfect wife for his son Isaac. His prayer to the God of Abraham was
simple: provide the perfect wife for Isaac and give me the wisdom to be able to identify her.
God’s response was immediate. He faithfully provided an answer to a servant’s prayer and
a wife for Abraham’s son. God yet again showed Himself faithful to the word He’d spoken
to Abraham so many years before.

When I think of God’s promises to Abraham and His faithfulness to His word, I am also
reminded of the example that Abraham modeled for me. In order to be obedient to the
word of God, Abraham left his native country, his relatives and his father’s family. In Psalm
81 God reminds us to never have a foreign god, not to bow down before a false god. God
rescued us from our “native” land and blessed us with many good things. Like Abraham, we
must not return to that which we have been rescued from. Even now, God is still fulfilling the
promise of His word to Abraham…”all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”
Through Abraham God blessed all the families of the earth with His most precious gift, His
only begotten Son. It is when we receive this gift that we receive life and light.
Our goal, our challenge, is to live out lives in the light, in truth and in love. In 2 John we are
reminded that there are many deceivers in the world. We must be alert so that we do not
lose what we have worked so hard to achieve; to be diligent so that we receive the fullness
of our reward. Like the servant of Abraham if we require assistance we only need to ask the
God of Abraham and He will faithfully provide.

ANGIE BRYANT
Assistant Dean of Students
Division of Student Affairs