July 27, 2026:

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“‘I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshkol and Mamre. Let them have their share.’ After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.’” (Genesis 14.24; 15.1)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

Beholding to no one but God. Abram did what was right and good. When offered reward from Melchizedek, he accepted it graciously as from the Lord and tithed one tenth of all he had. It was a true thanksgiving. The same was not true for the reward offered by the King of Sodom. In that regard, he practiced humility. His words were clear without compromise: he would accept only what had been taken to feed those who fought with him and the share of the spoils they deserved which they in turn would share with those who fought alongside them. Nothing more would be exchanged for what “the law” required. Abram demonstrated his integrity before all the world and especially before the God Most High. Even from God he asked for nothing because all that he did was do what was right.

Is that how we operate in the world today? Do we seek recompense of some kind for doing what was right? Are our acts of kindness, our ministries of liberation and our fulfillment of Christ’s commission offered for payback? Is this not what real difference between works righteousness and righteous works? Do we consider all that God has provided in His covenant to us as reward for being alive or do we tithe and celebrate with that provision knowing it all belongs to Him and so do we? Because Abram practiced the integrity of humility, Melchizedek blessed, the King of Sodom laughed and God favored. We hear that favor in God’s response, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” What did Abram receive? He received God’s favor, indeed God Himself, as his reward for doing what was right. It was not a favor earned but a grace, a “favor” given. Not “favor” as being chosen one over another but as “blessing and honor.” As Abram did what was right in the sight of God, God aligned Himself with Abram to be his protection and provision. Of course, God always had been. It was up to Abram to recognize it.

Do we recognize that, too? How much of what we have do we claim for ourselves? How much do we proclaim belongs to God? When it comes to the practice of tithing, do we think about the “90%” we have been blessed with by God which we keep for ourselves as reward for the work we have done? Do we begrudge the “10%” we share with God as a thanks for letting us work to do what is right and good for us? Of course, Abram is no saint. He is called “The Father of Faith” not because he invented or created it but because he lived it. His life is our life, if we stop to think about it. In the midst of “many gods” present in the world across the myriad venues available to us, we listen to One who is “the way, the truth and the life.” We orient ourselves toward His guidance to go to a place we have not seen before but a place where testimonies of those who have go before us. (“You believe because of what you see but greater is it for those who believe and have not seen.”) How great is our faith and belief? And when we do what is right and good, obeying the urging of God’s Holy Spirit, do we do it for the immediate reward and/or gratification, or do we rest in the promise of the battle, war and victory won with Heaven as our final home? Mighty ones of God, we know that this world, this earth, is not our home. It is the place of sojourn going what God will show us to do and accomplish His will not ours be done unless our will is doing His will and there we find the two as one!

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.