Homecoming

If the Spirit of God were still literally breathing out the Word of God today and writing the pages of Scripture, what would He be saying about you and me? We are all telling a story with our lives. And the bible is God’s story, the story of His working in ordinary people’s lives like you and me. People who knew Him and many who didn’t just living life through the ordinary and the extraordinary. I’ve often wondered what would He say about me.

Today, I am as excited as I’ve ever been! Or maybe it just feels that way because I’m in the moment. Nevertheless, it’s impossible to articulate all the emotion in my heart. We’re in the car traveling to North Carolina where tomorrow night we’ll actually be able to put our arms around Tyler and kiss his precious masculine beautiful face and tell him eyeball to eyeball how much we love him and have missed him the past six and a half months. May I just say what a Mighty God we serve?!! He is absolutely the love of my life and I can hardly bear this love that is so magnificent. How He has blessed my life! How He has filled it with His goodness! How could I ever repay Him for all He’s done for me? My son is coming home and it is a glorious day! James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above…” Anything good we experience in this life is a gift from God. I praise Him for this time and I thank Him for the gift of the moments I am about to walk through.

I read a story this week about a homecoming in scripture…fascinating! I was writing down the first recorded battle in Genesis, chapter 14, four kings against five. Lot, Abram’s nephew was living in Sodom at the time, and as the story goes the four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and they carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom (wrong place at the wrong time). One who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Scripture says Abram called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit of Lot. Wait a minute, I thought Abram was childless? This is before God fulfilled his promise to Abraham that he would have a son and be the father of many nations! Where did these 318 trained men “in his household” come from? I don’t know but I believe God is showing us that Abram was a man of influence and that we have “households” even without children or physical offspring. Are we training those over whom we have influence for battle? Will we be ready when the enemy attacks? Will they be ready to fight? Will they know what to do, when to move out in pursuit, will we be taken by surprise or surprise our attackers? Huge lesson!

Abram was ready, and his household was ready for he recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people. All were rescued! Lot came home. I imagine those moments and wonder what kind of emotion every character experienced. Don’t rush through the story. Let God speak.

Then watch closely…

After Abram returned from defeating his enemies, it says the king of Sodom came out to meet him and said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.” Isn’t that just like our enemy Satan? But, listen to Abram’s response…he said, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath that I will accept nothing belonging to you…so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’” Think about that…

There was always plunder after a battle was won. Blessing that came from the victory. I believe the king of Sodom pictures our enemy today who lives to steal, kill and destroy mankind yet lures us with goods, possessions, desire that never satisfies. Often the people of God raise their hands in worship and there are many reasons why, but what a picture Abram gives us in this passage! He raised his hand to the LORD vowing he would accept nothing from the enemy! Whoo hoo!! I’m with ya Abram! May we lift our hands and say in our hearts to the LORD, it’s all for YOU and You alone!

What an incredible story! And there’s so much more in it that God wants to show any listening heart. Thank you, Abram, for your story. I can’t wait to meet you! This is a new day full of opportunity. Whether its mundane or extraordinary…let’s live it for Jesus! With Everyting!