Daily Devotions
Genesis
"I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised…" Psalm 18:3a
Text: Genesis 12:1-20
APPRECIATING THE WORSHIP THAT ABRAM GAVE TO GOD
Worship may not be as elaborate in days of old, but it is nevertheless worthy of study. How did Abram worship? Let us meditate on this text.
“Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said,
‘To your descendants I will give this land.’
And there he built an altar to the Lord,
who had appeared to him.”GENESIS 12:7
1. Worship as a Grateful Response to God
God had spoken to Abram twice now! The first time was to give him a promise (Genesis 12:1-3). The second time was to confirm that the land Abram had traversed (Genesis 12:5-6) would indeed belong to his descendants one day! How could Abram not worship? The desire to offer God worship must have just flowed from his very soul!
2. Worship in Awe
How does one worship a God who speaks to you with powerful words of promise? How do you offer worship to a God whose Presence humbles you to dust? Awe must have been in Abram’s heart as he built an altar and dedicated it to the Lord!
3. Worship as a Commemorative Event
The Scriptures note that on the first occasion, God only spoke to Abram (Genesis 12:1). On the second occasion, we read that the Lord actually “appeared to Abram” and then spoke to him (Genesis 12:7). What an event that must have been! God appeared before Abram personally! That was some event. The altar set up would commemorate this wondrous appearance of God!
4. Worship from a Growing Faith
What joy Abram must have felt in his heart as he discovered a new-found faith in God. He was likely the first person in his family to have faith in God. This faith surged forward in strength as he dwelt on God’s word to him. Few things are as uplifting and meaningful as worship from a vibrant and growing faith!
5. Worship from a heart of love
How could Abram not love the Lord? He was nothing until God spoke to him and offered him unheard-of blessings! And these were not just reserved for him. The promise of blessing was to extend to his posterity! How could anyone not be filled with a special sense of love for God?
WORSHIP AS THE MOST APPROPRIATE EXPRESSION OF FAITH
How may a person filled with gratitude, awe, faith and love express all that he feels inside his heart except through sincere and whole-hearted worship? Abram bowed his head in humble worship as God appeared to him in the promised land of Canaan.