Failing Those Around Us
Genesis 18:26-33
[26] And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. [27] And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes: [28] Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it . [29] And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty’s sake. [30] And he said unto him , Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it , if I find thirty there. [31] And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake. [32] And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake. [33] And the Lord went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.
We see here Abraham communing with God about the sparring Sodom. We know Lot has separated from Abraham and found himself in this wicked place. Why does Abraham stop at 10? We see the number start at 50 and work it’s way down to 10. Abraham thought for sure Lot had won his own family, but this wasn’t the case. We see this in 19:14.
Genesis 19:14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
Lot had not lived a life that exemplified Christ. Not only had he failed his family, but all those around him. He had done nothing that would cause them to take him serious when he began to talk of what the Lord was about to do. His life did not point others to knowing God. What do our lives point others to?
Do we:
-Point others to Christ
-Provide a positive influence
-Position ourselves as role models IN and OUT of the church
Abraham no doubt did not support the wickedness going on in Sodom. However, that didn’t keep him from praying for the city! The complete opposite of Lot. Our desire for those around us should be to be gloriously born again if they are lost. If they are saved then we should be an example to see them grow in the Lord.
If we aren’t that stepping stone, then we are a stumbling block, and in turn, failing those around us.
God bless you today!
Bro. Josh Richardson