Daily Devotional for Friday, December 27

The Gospel Preached unto Abraham

"And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, in thee shall all nations be blessed;' Galatians 3:8.

Growing up poor on a farm in rural south Arkansas, I learned quickly that there were many activities and associations in which I was not welcome. Then, asnow, children were considered to belong to certain social groups and crossing the border from one group to another was difficult if not impossible. I did not associate with the more affluent students, whose parents or grandparents had money, because they were taught that they were superior by virtue of their families' financial status. They had the best of everything, clothes, cars, homes, and we had much less. I was not accepted in the athletic circles, due largely to my lack of natural ability, and the fact that when teams were having afterschool practices, I knew my afterschool activities were waiting for me on the farm. Looking back, I realize God was preparing me for alife and calling for which the rigor of the farm life was the best training ground.

The mission for which God was preparing me was that of preaching the gospel and pastoring the Lord's flock. As I studied the gospel in preparation for ministry, I found that God, unlike men, ignored the social and cultural lines so valued by the world. The gospel is equally offered to everyone. Wealth offers no advantage while poverty is no obstacle. Men and women stand on equal ground before the cross. All ethnicities become brothers under the blood of Christ. The gospel heard and received by Abraham (Genesis 12:2, 3) was truly universal. In the descendants of Abraham through which the Savior would emerge, all nations, all people groups would be invited to become children of the Most High. God be praised for His grace and generosity.

A FINAL THOUGHT

Do not allow yourself to be identified by those who reject you as inferior. Through the gospel of Jesus Christ, you are an heir in a royal family!

John Nations