*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*THE POWER OF INFLUENCE (5).*
*Scripture Treasure.*
Gal 3:8 *And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.*
*Insight and Highlight.*
God said in Abraham *"....all nations shall be blessed."* By this, God was saying that those who will be like Abraham will be blessed like him.
*Scripture Commentaries.*
When you are influenced by great minds, you will be great as your influencer.
God deposited a seed of a great influencer to all generations into Abraham, so everyone influenced by his faith will be blessed as he was blessed.
When faith is mentioned, Abraham is mentioned. No teaching of faith is complete without him.
Yesterday, we looked at how the story of Abraham teaches us that there are times we can be our own influencers, and by this, we can influence the faith of others.
Abraham was a great faith influencer, but one may ask why Abraham did not inform anyone of God's directive to sacrifice Isaac.
We looked at why he did not tell the young men, though he assured them he and Isaac would return (Gen 22:5).
How would he go about sacrificing Isaac without informing Sarah?
Today, we will further look at one reason why he did not tell Sarah.
First, a possible answer to why Abraham did not tell Sarah is that God may have restrained Abraham by His providence.
God, by His providence, often does the unexpected.
Remember God had told him once to listen to his wife (Gen 21:12). God who encouraged mutual understanding would not have discouraged mutual communication.
So who could have restrained Abraham except God by His providence?
God's providence is at work when he leads or restrains us on whether or not to interact His message. We need to always pray that God will lead us to whom to speak to or whether or not to speak to anyone concerning a revelation or vision.
If God foresees His purposes will be truncated, He could, by His providence and sovereign power restrain word or vision or revelation--interaction,
ref Matt 1:18-20, 2:12, Luke 1:13, 20, 59-64.
Another of God's providence is seen in Rebecca. Rebecca must have been restrained to tell Isaac that God had told her Esau would serve Jacob (ref Gen 25:21-26).
How could she have told Isaac that Esau, whom God knew Isaac would eventually love, was hated by God?
God proved this beyond her because Isaac eventually did not love both boys equally, just as she did not.
Seeing this divided love, God kept it beyond any reach for her to divulge the information.
While it remains that secrecy of Abraham and Rebecca could be adduced to God's providence, it still remains that transparency still has its trust-based role it plays in God.
We must also know that only by God’s providence will secrecy thrive.
If secrecy is encouraged without God, it will bring chaos.
God told us every truth of Abraham. Abraham was not endorsed for his acts in Gen 12:10-20, 20:1-18. He was endorsed, however, as a universally acceptable faith influencer in Gen 22.
Though his lives may have gone through its ups and downs, his ultimate test came when God wanted to know if Abraham actually trusted Him.
Every true influencer will teach you the ups and downs of life. He/she will encourage you that no matter how long the night may be, light will break it!
Who is your influencer?
Has your influencer really tasted the thick and thin of life?
Has he passed God's ultimate test?
*Remorse corner.*
We can influence people's lives by letting them know the truth of life.
*The Christian clarion duty.*
God told us everything about Abraham as a faith influencer. He told us where he failed and where he ultimately passed the test of God's trusted friend.
*Prayer.*
Lord, open my eyes of influence so that l may open other people's eyes in Jesus name.
Good morning all and have a blessed day today.
God bless you.