Devotion reading for the week of Sept. 11th 2017

source 

• Sept. 11th Exodus 20:8-11 The Sabbath Commandment
• Sept. 12th Deuteronomy 5:12-15 Recall God's Deliverance on the Sabbath
• Sept. 13th Matthew 12:9-14 Healing on the Sabbath
• Sept. 14th Mark 6:1-5 Teaching on the Sabbath
• Sept. 15th Acts 16:11-15 Worship on the Sabbath
• Sept. 16th Psalm 92 A Psalm for the Sabbath
• Sept. 17 Exodus 31:12-18 The Sabbath, Sign of the Covenant

Devotions from: Standard Lesson Commentary, (2017). Standard Publishing

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Following our Sunday School lesson in Genesis 17, let's take another look at Genesis 17:1:

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. (KJV)

At first glance, we may cringe when we see the word "perfect."  There are times when looking in other locations of the Bible helps us understand its use here.  To help us do that, for those of us 😉 without a seminary degree, use this link (a lexicon) to see the same word used in other locations. 

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him, saying, “I am God Almighty. Live in my presence and be blameless. (CSB)

Blameless or sincere (Ps 51:6) in heart, speech, and behavior in our walk with God.  God was calling Abram to walk before him faithfully and blamelessly.   After Abram's sin with Hagar, God wanted Abram to use a new standard of measurement. 

While we walk with God, we focus upon the same.  Walking with faith while being blameless or not doing wrong.  We learn what wrong is when we measure our life with God's standard of living instead of our own.  As Abram and Sarai did when trying to fulfill God's promise their way, through Hagar, instead of faithfully waiting upon God's methods.

Yes, while we still sin, we have the opportunity to reconcile and repent to God.  He then removes it, "As far as the east is from the West."  (Ps 103:12)  We still suffer sin's consequences, before God we can be blameless, walking in faith, believing, depending on God.

• A few more references:
• Romans 13:13 encourages us to walk honestly (decently) not participating in the licentious lifestyle of the world. 
• Galatians 5:13 says that we are called to be free from sin, but that we cannot use freedom “for an occasion to the flesh,” somehow excusing our continued sins. 
• Another example: 1 Peter 4:3-4