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Escape?

 For 2021, I am reading through the Bible with the Bible Project-Biblical Storyline Reading Plan on the YouVersion App. This devotional will follow along with the daily reading.

Today's reading is: Genesis 19-21 

Lot lived close to danger. 

Genesis 14:11-12 11 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away.12 They also carried off Abram's nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.

Abraham rescued Lot from serious peril when Lot was taken by the four kings. Then God warned Abraham about the destruction which was coming on Sodom and Gomorrah. God showed His mercy by saving Lot from the fire and brimstone which rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah.

Genesis 18:17-19 ASV - 17 And Jehovah said, Shall I hide from Abraham that which I do; 18 seeing that Abraham had surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Jehovah, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Jehovah may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

Genesis 19:24 ASV - 24 Then Jehovah rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from Jehovah out of heaven;

The question for me now is: do I live close to danger and not even know it?

Luke 17:31-33 NIV - 31 On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. 32 Remember Lot's wife! 33 Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.

We are told to remember Lot's wife. Why? Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it. What life do we lose? What life do we preserve? Lot's wife lived in an evil place. She was not safe. Yet, for some reason Lot's wife looked back.

Genesis 19:17 ASV - And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the Plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

Genesis 19:26 ASV - But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

I can't imagine that Lot's wife fully understood the seriousness of her situation. How many of us live like this? Our lives are a spiritual battle not only for our bodies which are wasting away, but for our eternal souls. Somehow we fail to understand the severity of our situation.

Last year, 2020, my word for the year to focus on was: watchful. I chose again and again to pay attention to what needed prayer. If I am to "remember Lot's wife", then I will be aware of the spiritual battle going on all the time all around me. I will recognize that I am not able to fight the battle for myself. I will need to trust the angel telling me "don't look back" more than I trust my own eyes. I need to be more aware of the impending spiritual doom than I am of my comfort, entertainment, and physical wellbeing. 

1 Timothy 6:19 ASV - laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is life indeed.


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