"That's the Truth!" - The Reward is God!

“We must cease striving and trust God to provide what He thinks is best and in whatever time He chooses to make it available. But this kind of trusting doesn't come naturally. It's a spiritual crisis of the will in which we must choose to exercise faith.”  -Charles R. Swindoll

Happy Monday to you, and welcome to "That's the Truth!"

Faith is the channel, not the source of justification. The primary lesson of practical Christianity is that we must begin by receiving, not by giving; must learn to believe his word because it is his word. God promises a great and everlasting reward for those who place their faith in Him. May you grow in faith, knowledge, and God's love!

Topic: Your Reward for Your Faithfulness - (Genesis 15:1-6, 12-18)

Opening Prayer: God, you have made the heavens and the earth. You have revealed your beauty in creation and inspired the book that we are now about to study. Please help us now as we read together. Take us deeper into understanding more about you and your love for us. Amen.

“After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward” (Genesis 15:1—
KJV). 

“After this, Abram had a vision and heard the LORD say to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I will shield you from danger and give you a great reward’” (Genesis 
15:1—GNB). 

“After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great’” (Genesis 15:1—
NRSV). 

God communicates with His people in ways best suited to meet their needs and situation. Abram probably knew many of the facts that we know from the first eleven chapters of Genesis, because his ancestors handed these truths down to their descendants. In addition to knowing about God from their testimony, because of his previous experiences with God, Abram recognized God when He spoke to him in visions.

Compared to what we can learn about God from the Bible, Abram’s knowledge could have been very small. For example, Abram did not have the Psalms; therefore, to comfort and encourage Abram, God needed to speak to him in visions. Abram’s visions taught him, and eventually millions of people, more about God and the various ways He helps people.

When the LORD spoke to Abram, He told him not to be afraid. Before this vision, Abram feared Pharaoh and he acted unwisely (see Genesis 12:10-20). Abram had to learn by experience to keep trusting in God’s promise, “I am your shield,” for when he later feared Abimelech and chose unwisely, God acted as his shield and saved Abimelech from sinning against Abram and his family (see Genesis 20:1-18).

From their study of the Bible, believers know that the LORD himself acts as their shield, the same as God acted as the shield for Abraham and Sarah. God actually surrounds His followers with His almighty, loving presence. Therefore, all who share the faith of Abraham know that their everlasting relationship with God is the greatest reward they can receive for their faithfulness to God.

Quick Study:

1. What is the difference between God being your shield and God providing you with a shield? Which would you prefer? Why?

2. What shield are believers supposed to take? Why do believers need this shield in addition to the protection God provides?

3. What reward did God promise Abram? Compare different translations of Genesis 15:1 (see especially the King James Version) for your answer.

4. What did God say would happen to some of Abram’s descendants? How might their knowing this have helped them?

5. What did God say would happen to Abram?

Closing Prayer: Father, thank you that you have revealed Your love to us today. We invite You to send us out today in the power of the Holy Spirit. Fan into flame the gifts that you have given us, Come reveal Your grace and truth to us each day. For Yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, Forever and ever. Amen.

-a very special thank you to L.G. Parkhurst, Jr.

May God bless you! 

Riley