SCRIPTURE
Genesis 24:34-41, 50-67 (NRSV)
So he said, "I am Abraham's servant. The Lord has greatly blessed my master, and he has become wealthy; he has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female slaves, camels and donkeys. And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and he has given him all that he has. My master made me swear, saying, 'You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live; but you shall go to my father's house, to my kindred, and get a wife for my son.' I said to my master, 'Perhaps the woman will not follow me.' But he said to me, 'The Lord, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you and make your way successful. You shall get a wife for my son from my kindred, from my father's house. Then you will be free from my oath, when you come to my kindred; even if they will not give her to you, you will be free from my oath.' ...
Then Laban and Bethuel answered, "The thing comes from the Lord; we cannot speak to you anything bad or good. Look, Rebekah is before you, take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has spoken."
When Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the ground before the Lord. And the servant brought out jewelry of silver and of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave to her brother and to her mother costly ornaments. Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank, and they spent the night there. When they rose in the morning, he said, "Send me back to my master." Her brother and her mother said, "Let the girl remain with us a while, at least ten days; after that she may go." But he said to them, "Do not delay me, since the Lord has made my journey successful; let me go that I may go to my master." They said, "We will call the girl, and ask her." And they called Rebekah, and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" She said, "I will." So they sent away their sister Rebekah and her nurse along with Abraham's servant and his men. And they blessed Rebekah and said to her,
"May you, our sister, become
thousands of myriads;
may your offspring gain possession
of the gates of their foes."
Then Rebekah and her maids rose up, mounted the camels, and followed the man; thus the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
Now Isaac had come from Beer-lahai-roi, and was settled in the Negeb. Isaac went out in the evening to walk in the field; and looking up, he saw camels coming. And Rebekah looked up, and when she saw Isaac, she slipped quickly from the camel, and said to the servant, "Who is the man over there, walking in the field to meet us?" The servant said, "It is my master." So she took her veil and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent. He took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
DEVOTION
I absolutely love a good love story!
I am blessed in my life to be a part of a union that is so blessed that I know it could have only come from God.
I know that some people reading this blog today know exactly what I am talking about for you have a husband or a wife who loves you and brings you comfort in times of trial, tribulation, or trouble.
Others of you are reading today wishing that all was well in your marriage. Perhaps things started out well, but now you are stuck in a rut. Or maybe things started out perfectly, but now you are going downhill fast!
On this day, it is my prayer that Spirit will rise up in you and call to remembrance all of the things about your spouse that first caused you to "go with him/her." As you meditate on his/her good qualities, I pray that you will fall in love all over again, making up your mind to DO LOVE (e.g, actions) until your heart follows (e.g., feelings).
Finally, there are those reading today, who have not yet found the love of your life. Perhaps you are single and you like it that way. Perhaps you are unwed and praying for a partner. Perhaps you're just open to the move of God in your life and live with no expectations at all.
Wherever we may be in our walk with God, and in relationship with others, we can all know one thing for sure!
Even more than Isaac loved Rebekah, CHRIST LOVES US.
This is the greatest love story of all time! Our God loves us so much that Love gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life.
Isn't it amazing that the hero in our story was actually willing to DIE for his true love?
This is the stuff of fairy tales, my friends, BUT IT IS REAL...
It is a sad fact that sometimes our loved ones come through for us and sometimes they don't! But, our JESUS always comes through for us and he never leaves us, nor forsakes us. He doesn't give up on us and he doesn't cast us away. Even when we mess up big time, he gives us another chance to try again. And even when we want him to leave us alone, he will not, for there is NO-thing that we can ever do to make God stop loving us...
Today, I want you to know that you are loved. You are considered a most valuable treasure in the eyes of our God. Even if no one else says it to you today. Hear these words:
I LOVE YOU. (God)
Let us pray:
God, thank you for loving me so much. No one has ever--or will ever--love me the way that you do. Please help me to walk in love by following your example. I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta
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