Daily Reading: Genesis 28
Scripture Focus: You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women. (Genesis 28.1)
Devotional Thought: When we first moved to North Carolina in 1983, I found the accent pleasing and charming. Living there 20 years, I picked up on it myself. When I moved to Illinois, I naturally switched back to a Midwestern accent. I noticed something, though. When I was around my southern friends, I found it easy to revert back to the southern accent.
We tend to adopt the manner of our environment, don't we? Rebekah - the wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob - knew that. She told Isaac, “I loathe my life because of the Hittite women. If Jacob marries one of the Hittite women like these, one of the women of the land, what good will my life be to me?” (Genesis 27.46) Isaac took immediate action to insulate his son from the ungodly influence of Hittite culture as he told Jacob, "You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women." (Genesis 28.1)
I was speaking with a friend last week - a former addict - who told me that an addict must break away from all those people and settings that trigger their addiction. The same principle applies to Christians in general - especially young Christians. It is so important for us as Christians to surround ourselves with godly influences and culture. Jesus taught us that though we are in the world, we need not be of the world. In other words, we don't have to embrace the culture; we don't have to "marry the Canaanites."
Let us heed the words of the Apostle Paul: "The appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who... deal with the world [live] as though they had no dealings with it" (1 Corinthians 7.29, 31). In other words, speak with Heaven's accent!
Prayer: Father, help me to discern the difference between engaging the world versus embracing the world. Help me to surround myself with Christian influence and values, and from that foundation to be salt and light. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: 7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! 8 You have said, "Seek my face." My heart says to you, "Your face, LORD, do I seek." 9 Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! 10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in. (Psalm 27.7-10)
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