Victory and Wisdom

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said:

“Blessed be Abram of God Most High,

Possessor of heaven and earth;

And blessed be God Most High,

Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all. 

(Genesis 14:18-20)

We all desire blessings from the Lord, and well we should. Our Father owns everything, and all that is His is also ours! He is determined to bless us, and He ushers his children into those blessings with the most intimate and tender care. But the Lord is not satisfied just to bless His children. He wants to use us for His glory. Therefore, the Holy Spirit will teach us to walk wisely, shrewdly, and circumspect in our days -- to be victorious and wise. Isn’t that the earmark of every good father? Doesn’t he help us by patiently teaching, testing, correcting, and directing us until he can trust us? Abram had learned well, so he took the opportunity to worship God after his great victory. And he gave him a tithe of all. If we are wise, we will do the same.

Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.” But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, “I have made Abram rich’— (Genesis 14:21-23)

God's blessings come with great responsibility, because those times can be both wonderful and precarious. Be sure that Satan is ever lurking, hoping to catch us in a weak moment, and to get a foothold in the midst of God's work in us -- so we must not let our guards down after great victories. If we are not careful and prayerful, the enemy will quietly infiltrate our ranks and use our preoccupation with the trappings of success against us. Like our father, Abram, we must seek out and pursue the privilege of worship, receive God’s blessings only, and reject and expose the schemes of that wily snake, Satan. Are you prepared to pass this test? Are you prepared to be blessed?

Let's Pray - Dear Father, please give us the wisdom necessary to steward Your blessings. May we, like our father Abraham, receive the bread and wine of Holy Communion, and may we worship You acceptably. In Jesus, Amen.