Open Hands

"Abram said to Lot: Let there now be no dispute between the two of us, between my herdsmen and yours, for we are brothers. Is not the whole earth before you?" (Gen. 13:8-9).

When he had just returned from his unfortunate experience in Egypt, how beautiful the land God had given him must have seemed to Abram! However, now he must learn another important lesson: he must not rush to take possession of the land. He might have reasoned that a gift as precious as this should be accepted and immediately withheld at all costs.

This is how we reason when God grants us his gifts. However, Abram realized that he had to give up his rights. His Lot's nephew should have priority in choosing what he wanted.

This is a lesson we all need to learn. Can we trust the Lord to keep for us what he has given, without clinging to it with our natural possessive desires? What God gives, he gives! It is not necessary that we strive to have it.

In fact, if we fearfully cling to his gift and try to withhold it, we may be in danger of losing it. Only what we have renounced by virtue of our trust in Him will truly become ours.

(Watchman Nee)

Design downloaded from free website templates.