A final reflection on Genesis 13

Sometimes church life seems to be subject to the same power struggles as any other organisations. We get caught up with our own progression, our own ministry, our own position, our own preferences and our own agenda. There is a fight to assert ourselves firmly in the driving seat and for the church to bear our mark. I wonder if we forget what the promise is really about? Do we lose sight of what the Kingdom is? What is it we are trying to control? How important are the battles we are trying to fight? Do they really impact on the coming of a Kingdom where God is recognised as God, the poor are clothed, the hungry fed, the broken hearted healed, the captive set free, the lonely befriended and the whole world blessed because of who we are? Do our preferences about music, hymn books, structure, dress and all the other things that we fight about really have anything at all to do with the promise? Is God not looking for a worshiping people who are working to see the world bear His mark again? A world where love triumphs over cultural differences.

Abram did not let the decision that he and Lot faced overshadow the promise. He didn't fight to assert his preference over which ways they would go. His concern was with the promise and his faith was in God to deliver it. He didn't need to fight this battle. He recognised that this decision was irrelevant in terms of the realisation of God’s promise. How often do we take the courage to follow Abram in letting go? Do we return to the promise and assess whether the battles we are fighting are really worth it? What is it we are hoping for; a social club that ticks our boxes or a Kingdom that blesses the world? Divest your emotions from the irrelevant.