As Pure Gold | David, Local CR Leader

 

 

Read Genesis 23 Genesis 23 NLT - The Burial of Sarah - When Sarah was - Bible Gateway   Genesis 23:4-6- “Here I am, a stranger and a foreigner among you. Please sell me a piece of land so I can give my wife a proper burial.” The Hittites replied to Abraham, “Listen, my lord, you are an honored prince among us. Choose the finest of our tombs and bury her there. No one here will refuse to help you in this way.”

Here we get to see three very important and time-honored traditions from this area of the ancient world - properly celebrating and honoring those who have died, a good reputation being of great value, and Middle Eastern "haggling." Abraham loved and treasured Sarah deeply, who shared in all of the promises from God, and wanted to do all in his power to offer her the best available place for burial. As a foreigner, he was also deeply aware that he would need to rely on the friendship and generosity of others to secure such a site not only for Sarah, but for the many other family members who would die in the future. Given that Abraham had come to be deeply respected by others in this region, he found people willing to assist him, which leads to the "haggling" over the price he would pay for the land. Abraham, however, made no counteroffer; rather, he immediately accepted the inflated price Ephron asked to receive, which, I assume, would have taken Ephron aback. Why not haggle? Because this revealed Abraham's willingness to make whatever sacrifice and commitment was necessary to secure the land God promised to him.

All of these years later we still seek out just the right ways to properly honor those who have gone before us in death. Some things in life aren't worth haggling over. They might even be non-negotiable. It's important for us to do whatever it takes to make sure that we properly honor those we have loved so much and who have loved us so well. What rituals do you have to remember and give thanks to God for those who have richly blessed your life? Who are you thinking about right now? I'm thinking about a friend who died of leukemia years ago, my grandparents, high school classmates gone too soon, and people at UC I have known over the last five years. Just as Abraham put in motion 1800 years ago, we do well to honor those who have loved us and helped us become who we are today.

Dear God, thank You for the people who are no longer living on this earth that have deeply touched our lives and helped us in ways too numerous to count. Many have gone before us, lifted me up, and put us on their shoulders. They have come home to You to fully and completely experience Your loving presence. We miss them here and now, and we look forward to seeing them there and then in eternity. Thank You for the privilege of properly remembering and honoring them. Let us be like Abraham and Sarah as we seek to develop a "good reputation" along the way.   Today especially, Lord, we also pray for the incoming administration- for our President and all who will serve alongside him. We also pray for all who will disagree with new policies in the coming years. May we disagree without being disagreeable. May love be our aim in such disagreements. Amen.

 

"Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation." (Proverbs 3:3-4),

 

Pastor Jamie

 

P. S. - Check out this event we will be hosting called the "Spirit & Truth Conference" on February 7-8. Starting Friday evening at 7 pm. This is a great opportunity to be renewed and refreshed!

 

Register and More Info Cost: $59; limited seating 

 

The Spirit & Truth Conference is a gathering for believers to get equipped and seek the powerful presence of the Lord together. It’s a chance to learn from respected leaders about ways to spark a new movement of back-to-the-basics, Spirit-filled, missional Christianity. Together we will ask the Lord to help us become more empowered by the Spirit, rooted in the truth, and mobilized for the mission!