June 25, 2026:

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Harran, they settled there.” (Genesis 11.31)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

Have you ever settled for something when it was something more you wanted, desired and had set out to accomplish? Of course, not everything we want and desire and set out to accomplish is right, good and truly profitable in spirit and in truth. There are many things we pray for and ask God to provide without thinking “Does this align with the will and word of God?” Just because we want and desire something doesn’t mean God will want it for us. Yes, Jesus said to the Pharisees, “If a bad father can give good gifts to his children, how much more will God, our heavenly Father, give us who ask of Him?” (Matthew 7.11) Yet, just because we ask and consider the request as that of a good gift doesn’t mean God is obliged to give it to us; especially if He knows it is not a good gift. There are times when God did give His people what they wanted, desire and set out to accomplish. The story of Saul of Kish becoming the first king of Israel is the prime example. God had something else in mind before He even considered there to be a king. God’s purpose was for the people to simply be in relationship with Him and follow His lead. The role of Moses and Joshua in the life of Israel coming into God’s promise was the template for success. They were the precursors for those who would be called “judges.” The people, however, had a different “person” in mind. They asked Samuel, whose sons proved to be a failure as judges because of their ungodliness, for a “king like all other nations had.” God knew that was a bad idea. Still, the people would not relent, so God let them experience exactly what they wanted. He did, but not without having another person in mind when failure was the result of their request. They got Saul, whom they chose, and he would not follow God’s lead. Is that the direction we want to go in our lives? Is that the design of choosing who will lead us and how we ourselves will lead?

Sadly, the response for many is to not decide at all, or so we think. To “not decide” is to decide. “Settling” is a decision. It says more about ourselves than God or anyone else. Consider all the places and ways you have settled for something when something more and better and aligned with God’s will was still “out there.” Yes, it might require more effort, greater sacrifice and deeper trust. Wouldn’t it be worth it? What if Jesus had settled for exercising His ability to put aside the cup and let Himself down from the cross. He could have “settled” for life on earth (the premise of the movie “The Last Temptation of Christ”) and lived out His days. He could have settled for “I think I have done enough.” We know the angst and struggle of that consideration while He prayed in the Garden in the early morning hours before Judas arrived with the Temple posse and had Jesus arrested. He prayed “Father, if it is possible let this cup pass from Me.” It would have been like, “Father, I am glad to just take a sip. Won’t that be good enough? I think so.” He didn’t do that, however. Instead, He took the cup and emptied it. He did not fake it and pour it on the ground while the other disciples were sleeping. He finished it all the way to the cross and topped it off with wine vinegar because He was still thirsty and needed a little more to get the job done.

So, we read in this passage of scripture about Terah and his family leaving Ur and heading off to Canaan. Maybe he heard that it was a land flowing with milk and honey, with fruits and vegetables whose size defied imagination and the promise of abundant life found as far as the eye could see. As some come to this country for the “American Dream,” maybe Terah was in search of the “Canaan Dream.” What we hear instead is that they set out with good intentions and when they got to Haran…they settled. It was enough to have that “good try.” Is that what God wanted? Obviously from the “rest of the story,” we know it was not. Terah settled and died there. Abram and Lot moved on and claimed what had been promised. So where are you? Where are we? Settling or moving on to that promised land?

TODAY’S PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness but as righteous works of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.