January 6th

Genesis 18:1-21:7

These chapters show a contrast between Abraham and his nephew Lot. Angels of the Lord visited both men but for two very different reasons. For Abraham, their visit was to announce the birth of a son by Sarah. For Lot, their visit was to announce the destruction of his hometown and godless neighbors.

When reading about these two men — Abraham and Lot — did you notice in whose presence each of them liked to dwell? Abraham rushed to spend time with the Lord; he prepared a meal for Him, made Him feel at home, and later walked by His side and talked with Him about His plans.

On the other hand, Lot was found by the angels sitting at the gate of Sodom. He had become a fixture in that perverse society, and that perverse society had compromised his testimony and influence. His in-laws thought he was joking when he warned them of Sodom’s doom. He hesitated when it came time to leave. He did not want to remove himself from the city, but, rather, he wanted to stay nearby. His wife was concerned for the welfare of that wicked place; and his daughters debased him with Sodom’s perversion. It’s pretty clear that when Lot moved into Sodom, Sodom moved into Lot.

Daily Reflection

What about you? Are you Abraham or Lot? Who is getting your attention — the Lord or the world? For whomever you are spending time with will influence your life either positively or negatively. Pay attention to what’s important in life, the eternal things of God, not the temporal things of this world.