WordLive - Year OneSample

Prepare: Do you know people who are under attack at the moment? Pray for them and for all persecuted Christians around the world. To the rescue Wealth and affluence do not guarantee a trouble-free life. Lot is now in the middle of a war zone and in the end is captured since he was living near Sodom. Abram’s response when he hears of Lot’s situation is to intervene and rescue him – in contrast to Cain’s response when God asks where his brother Abel is: ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’ retorts Cain (having murdered Abel). Responsible for others The unspoken answer is a resounding ‘yes!’ Abraham lives out this responsibility that we humans have towards one another. It would have been so easy for Abram to say, ‘Lot made his choice, he has to live with the consequences, and it is none of my business.’ Many of us live in cultures that promote the individual rather than the community. The Bible challenges us to care deeply for one another. How might you express responsibility towards someone else today? Priest and King The enigmatic figure of the priest and king Melchizedek is the mystery man in this chapter. He is referred to in Psalm 110 and Hebrews 7, with the Lord Jesus being likened to him. Kings and priests came from two different tribes so Melchizedek foreshadows the uniqueness of Christ in being both priest and king. Spanning thousands of years, the Bible story has strong threads running right through it. Respond: Reflect with wonder that you are caught up in a story that is much bigger than you! http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-03-22