Genesis 12:7 records an interesting scene, which I for one had often overlooked.  It reads, "Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, 'I will give this land to your descendants.  And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the LORD, who had appeared to him.'"  An author commenting on this verse wrote, "With gratitude for what he had not yet received, Abram worshiped as if there were no doubts about God's truthfulness."

The phrases "with gratitude for what he had not yet received" and "as if there were no doubts about God's truthfulness" struck home with me.  Romans 4:18 says, "Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping ...".  These are amazing statements.

We are not a culture that spends much time being grateful for what we will receive (sometimes we are not even grateful for what we have received but that's another topic).  We want it now and are often discouraged or frustrated when it is not immediately available or offered.

Christmas can be a difficult time if you find yourself in a place where God's promises for your life have not yet been fulfilled.  Yet Christmas is the perfect time to renew your faith concerning God's promise to you.  For we find in the birth of Jesus the proof that what God promises does happen.  And it happened in the darkest of times and in the most miraculous way.

It may seem like the darkest time for you right now (whether it looks dark to anyone else doesn't matter) and it may seem like it is an impossibility to ever receive what God has promised.  But I would encourage you to take the time to meditate upon the birth of a Saviour in an obscure, tiny manger.  Remember that it was foretold, and that it did happen.  That which God has spoken in the deepest places of your heart will happen.  Build an altar of worship inside your spirit, and with gratitude, worship Him for what you have not yet received for there is no doubt to His truthfulness.

Love you.  Let me hear from you when you get a chance.  Together, we can ... .... ...

Live The Life,

Bruce

P.S.  There may be some that are thinking "If the LORD physically appeared to me then I could do that also."  Here's a couple of things to consider.  We don't know "how" the Lord appeared to Abram, but it wasn't an outright physical manifestation for the Scriptures record that no man can see God and live.  Second, the Hebrew word used here is used in a tense that means "to appear or to present oneself, to be visible".  This can mean that God manifested His presence (to use a word we use today) or that He caused His presence to be known, or that he provided an "image" of His presence.  Lastly, it is an interesting phrase that Abram built an altar "to the LORD, who had appeared to Him."  It wasn't until Moses that the LORD had a name.  It is not know how personal or intimate Abram's relationship was with God.  We tend to read these passages from our era of grace and intimacy with God.  But it wasn't always that way.  I don't think Abram had it any easier to believe in God than we do.  In fact, it may have been more difficult.  Something to think about.

BB

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