Bible Commentator William Barclay says, "There are two great days in a person's life—the day we are born and the day we discover why." It's the "why" that gives us a clear purpose in our lives. Understanding the purpose of our lives sets our feet in motion as we work to live up to our God-given potential. Our thought for reflection this Thursday morning is, “Our God choses us with a purpose”.
“For I have chosen him (Abraham), so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what He Has promised him”
(Genesis 18:19).
Whether one’s life is meaningful or meaningless depends on whether or not one chooses to be purposeful. We can lead a purposeful life only by understanding why God chose us. God wanted Abraham’s faith, integrity and obedience to be instilled in his descendants too. Thus here in Genesis 18:19, God clearly tells the purpose why He chose Abraham:
1. That he may direct his family to keep the way of the Lord.
From the time God called Abraham in Genesis 12, He taught Abraham His ways. Some of the lessons or ways of God that Abraham learnt were, “Importance of implicit obedience to God and unflinching faith in Him. God also taught Abraham that “man cannot fulfil God’s will in his own strength and he needs to be patient and wait for God’s time” for everything. God expected Abraham to teach these lessons to his descendants. We may provide our children and family with sumptuous food, good education and fashionable clothes. But are we directing them to keep the ways of the Lord?
2. That he may guide his family to keep doing what is right and just.
God wanted Abraham to be a spiritual leader at home and teach his descendants right things. His desire was that, like Abraham, his children should also do things that were good, right and just both before God and man. God expected Abraham to use his authority to give the needful instructions to his descendants so that they might continue to do what was right and just before God, even after his death. How faithful are we in directing our children to do what is right and just before God?
3. That he may be a channel of blessing to many.
God promised that if Abraham fulfilled faithfully his role as a spiritual leader in guiding his descendants in His path, then He would fulfil His promise to bless the nations through him. God said,
“For I have chosen him………. So that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him”
(Genesis 18:18).
Are we a blessing to others or enjoying God’s blessings all by ourselves?
Shall we decide to lead a purposeful life by directing our children and others around us in the ways of God. May God give us the grace to fulfil our spiritual responsibility of leading our children and others to do what is right so that God may bless us and continue to keep us as a blessing to others.
Have a blessed day!