A Greater Purpose

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.
–Romans 12:10

Abraham is a great example of what I am calling a Special K believer–somebody who is seeking true spirituality rather than spiritual experiences. When Abraham and his nephew Lot had to separate, Abraham gave up his right as the patriarch to choose the best land for himself. Why was he willing to do that? Because Abraham had a greater purpose than his own gratification.

First of all, he was concerned about his family’s well-being. Genesis 13:7-8 says, “The Canaanite and the Perizzite were dwelling then in the land. So Abram said to Lot, ‘Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers.’”

Canaan was the land God promised to Abraham and his descendants. The problem with Canaan was it was filled with Canaanites, people who hated God and the people of God. Abraham knew if the Canaanites sensed there was strife between him and Lot, they would use it as an opportunity to attack God’s people. So Abraham was saying, “For the sake of our family, let’s not let anything come between us.”

We would do well to remember that too. Paul said in Romans 12:10, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.” In Greek, the word translated as “brotherly” literally means “from the same womb.” When you are born again spiritually, God places you in a spiritual family–His church. And the reason is so you can not only receive the nurturing you need but you can also learn what it truly means to put the needs of other people above your own. Sadly, too many church families look like a bunch of piglets squealing and pushing one another away to get at their mother’s milk. They do not care about anybody’s needs except their own. But Abraham was concerned about his family’s well-being, so he was willing to surrender his rights.

But his greater purpose extended beyond the care of his own family. He was also concerned about the reputation of God. Abraham realized if the Canaanites destroyed their family, the reputation of God would be ruined. God had promised to make Abraham the father of a great nation, but if there were no Abraham, there would be no nation. And because Abraham was concerned about something more than his immediate gratification, because he had a concern for the plan and program of God, he was willing to surrender his rights to Lot. A Special K Christian is one who has a greater purpose than his own gratification.

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Today’s devotion is excerpted from “Becoming A Special K Christian In A Krispy Kreme World” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2011.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.