Faith — The Covenant - Monday
TODAY’S VERSE
Genesis 15:1
After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” (ESV)
When I was young, I went to a birthday party where we all had to play paintball. I was terrified. I’ve always been a cautious person, so the thought of being shot at with paintballs by 12 other people was my nightmare. I was definitely the kid who hid behind the big walls to avoid getting hit. Those walls became my shield for the rest of the birthday party.
That is the kind of shield we have in the Lord; He is a constant refuge. Right after Abram comes out of war (the first war recorded in Scripture), God sends him a reminder of who He is. The Lord is our shield to take refuge in, to know we are safe in, and to live without fear in. Psalm 18 is another reminder of who our God is when David writes this after being delivered from his enemy, Saul. “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Not only was God faithful to be Abram’s shield, but He was faithful to be David’s shield too. Which means He will continue to be faithful to YOU as your shield.
When I used those walls to shield me from all the paintballs, I actually won the whole game. Because I used the walls as my protection, I got the reward of being the last one standing.
The Lord also promises Abram a reward, a reward that only He can give. When Abram trusts God as his shield, he gets to receive a blessing like none other. The promise of descendants in his family. But more importantly, the promise of Jesus. From the line of Abram, we get Jesus, who is our greatest reward!
APPLICATION
Take some time today to journal out how Jesus is your greatest reward. God used Abram’s pain of waiting to bring the greatest reward for the whole world. How has God brought about your greatest reward through seasons of pain?
PRAYER
Father, thank You for keeping Your covenant with Abram. Thank You that this covenant resulted in my greatest reward, which is Jesus and my salvation. Create in me a rhythm of remembrance of Your promise-keeping.