Steve Grace
World Missions
Heritage Tour
Blessing or Curse
Two brothers attended the funeral of their father in ancient times. He was a man of great faith called Abraham. A friend of God. After Ishmael and Isaac laid him to rest they both went back to their lives. One pursued the promises God had given to his father, the other went back to conflict and living under a curse. But Isaac chased after the blessings God gave to his Dad.
“Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws.” Genesis 26:3-5
Ishmael became the father of many Arabic tribal nations. We read in Genesis 25:18 that “The sons of Ishmael lived in hostility toward all their brothers”. Isaac went back to the land promised by God to his father and as history shows…. Ishmael and his descendants have been in conflict since those early times. But the good news for all is there is hope. The answer is found in knowing Jesus Christ. Whether we are Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Buddhist, Animist or Atheist we can be grafted back into the family tree of Abraham. We can receive the promises and blessings God gave to Abraham by believing in and following Christ. Otherwise, just like Ishmael we end up living under the curse of our own sin.
In the past few weeks I have met two kinds of people in Outback communities. Some are existing under a curse of violence, fear, bitterness, unbelief and substance abuse…. others are living in peace, trusting the Lord and going from strength to strength with a healthy lifestyle. We all have the choice to pursue God’s blessings or ignore them.
My prayer… “Lord help me every day to pursue what you have promised, to live according to your ways. Forgive me when I fall short of your best for me, when I compromise what I know to be true. Fill me with the blessing of your Holy Spirit and your purposes that I may be a blessing to many others and honour you. Amen.”
Godspeed,
G’day Steve,
I have crossed paths with you a couple of times, at Macquarie Christian Life Centre and at Harvest Church in CA. Your music has always inspired me in times of need and I want to thank you for the seeds you sow.
If there is anything I can do to help in your ministry I offer my services. I have a strong administrative back ground.
Continued to be blessed
Sharryn