Athlete, The Wait Is Over
*This devotional series was written by the AIA staff team at the University of Virginia
Read Genesis 21
We've been waiting for this chapter for a long time, about ten days. Abraham and Sarah were waiting for this chapter of their lives for 25 years. At last, the son of promise has come! Sarah's laugh of cynicism (18:12) is transformed into the laugh of joy. We marvel, rejoice and laugh with Abraham and Sarah in the miraculous birth of Isaac, the son through whom their Savior and ours would eventually come.
But salvation is a long way from being fully realized. The household tension that was initially produced by Abraham and Sarah's self-reliant strategy (Genesis 16) rears its head, as Hagar's son mocks Isaac. God is, once again, compassionate and gracious to Hagar (21:15-20), but makes it clear that the son of promise, not the son of human effort, is the one through whom salvation would be realized. Abraham's offspring will be "reckoned" as righteous, or credited with righteousness, through Isaac's line (21:12; cf. 15:6), and Abraham's true offspring are those who share his faith in the promises of God (Romans 4:16-25).
In the last section of the chapter, God gives Abraham peace with his neighbors and "the LORD, the eternal God" provides him with a well and a home within the greater land that his descendants would receive from God.
Questions for Reflection & Prayer
1. Reread the first few verses, put yourself in Abraham and Sarah's sandals, and allow your heart to experience the joy of God bringing life out of death, a son out of a dead womb, and of long-awaited hopes being fulfilled. What does it look like for you to live consistently in this joy? Ask God to help you.
2. We are reminded that God is faithful even though He does not work on our timeline. Sometimes not even close to our timeline. In what part of your life is God not on your timeline? Where do you need to surrender to and rest in his timeline?
3. Today, are you wholly resting in the work of Jesus, the son of Abraham and Isaac, in whom you are reckoned as a child of God?
Read Genesis 21
We've been waiting for this chapter for a long time, about ten days. Abraham and Sarah were waiting for this chapter of their lives for 25 years. At last, the son of promise has come! Sarah's laugh of cynicism (18:12) is transformed into the laugh of joy. We marvel, rejoice and laugh with Abraham and Sarah in the miraculous birth of Isaac, the son through whom their Savior and ours would eventually come.
But salvation is a long way from being fully realized. The household tension that was initially produced by Abraham and Sarah's self-reliant strategy (Genesis 16) rears its head, as Hagar's son mocks Isaac. God is, once again, compassionate and gracious to Hagar (21:15-20), but makes it clear that the son of promise, not the son of human effort, is the one through whom salvation would be realized. Abraham's offspring will be "reckoned" as righteous, or credited with righteousness, through Isaac's line (21:12; cf. 15:6), and Abraham's true offspring are those who share his faith in the promises of God (Romans 4:16-25).
In the last section of the chapter, God gives Abraham peace with his neighbors and "the LORD, the eternal God" provides him with a well and a home within the greater land that his descendants would receive from God.
Questions for Reflection & Prayer
1. Reread the first few verses, put yourself in Abraham and Sarah's sandals, and allow your heart to experience the joy of God bringing life out of death, a son out of a dead womb, and of long-awaited hopes being fulfilled. What does it look like for you to live consistently in this joy? Ask God to help you.
2. We are reminded that God is faithful even though He does not work on our timeline. Sometimes not even close to our timeline. In what part of your life is God not on your timeline? Where do you need to surrender to and rest in his timeline?
3. Today, are you wholly resting in the work of Jesus, the son of Abraham and Isaac, in whom you are reckoned as a child of God?
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2019
May
Athlete, God CreatesAthlete, You're Made In His ImageAthlete, RestAthlete, RememberAthlete, God UnitesAthlete, Don't FallAthlete, Pain and Frustration Will EndAthlete, Stop ComparingAthlete, There Is No Middle RoadAthlete, Step Out In FaithAthlete, You're CleanAthlete, Know The CovenantAthlete, Know the NationsAthlete, Divisions ExistAthlete, God Makes PromisesAthlete, WaitAthlete, Location MattersAthlete, Who Is Melchizedek?Athlete, You Are IncludedAthlete, God Sees YouAthlete, God Gives Us Signs
June
Athlete, Be RemindedAthlete, Be Honest With GodAthlete, Reflect On His MercyAthlete, God Keeps CoveringAthlete, The Wait Is OverAthlete, God Tests Athlete, Put On The QualitiesAthlete, Be ChallengedAthlete, God works Evil For GoodAthlete, Glory is ComingAthlete, God Saves Messy PeopleAthlete, God Provides Athlete, God's in Control Athlete, God is PatientAthlete, Step Out in FaithAthlete, See the MarkersAthlete, Take Time to PrayAthlete, Let's Talk About Fresh StartsAthlete, Love is The CureAthlete, Grace is OffensiveAthlete, See the ForeshadowAthlete, Don't ForgetAthlete, God is NearAthlete, Are You Willing To Learn?Athlete, Give Thanks
July
Athlete, Cultivate IntimacyAthlete, Take ComfortAthlete, You Have An InheritanceAthlete, God Uses All of UsAthlete, ConfessAthlete, Don't DoubtAthlete, Make RoomAthlete, Ask Your QuestionsAthlete, Do Not ChargeAthlete, Be Aware of Resistance Athlete, Know Your HeartAthlete, Don't Be Stubborn Athlete, Trust JesusAthlete, Have Risky FaithAthlete, We Were Created For JoyAthlete, Understand the Already Not YetAthlete, What Are You TrustingAthlete, ReflectAthlete, You're a Royal Priest Athlete, PauseAthlete, Recognize His PresenceAthlete, Seek Justice
August
Athlete, Remember WITH not FORAthlete, David Wasn't Always PerfectAthlete, Confess to an Audience of OneAthlete, Be Honest With GodAthlete, Take NoteAthlete, Recognize the Preeminent OneAthlete, Put it to DeathAthlete, You Are Being RenewedAthlete, This is Your New UniformAthlete, Whatever You Do, Do It For JesusAthlete, Use A Different FormulaAthlete, We Are FamilyAthlete, You Have Three Deep NeedsAthlete, Fan The FlameAthlete, Start The FireAthlete, Know The AntidoteAthlete, Choose PeaceAthlete, Peace is a WeaponAthlete, It Was Not A Silent NightAthlete, This is How You Experience Peace
September
Athlete, Know The ExpectationAthlete, He Helps UsAthlete, He Teaches UsAthlete, He Reminds UsAthlete, He Prays for UsAthlete, Value OthersAthlete, Serve SomeoneAthlete, Be SelflessAthlete, Be BoldAthlete, LoveAthlete, You Are Completely ForgivenAthlete, You Have Eternal LifeAthlete, You Are Never AloneAthlete, You Are SignificantAthlete, Know The Power Of GodAthlete, What Has God Given YouAthlete, Surrender Your PlansAthlete, Do Not Neglect Your SoulAthlete, Leave a Lasting LegacyAthlete, Train All Your MusclesAthlete, Examine Yourself
October
Athlete, It Is The Little ThingsAthlete, Get Some Real FriendsAthlete, It Starts With YouAthlete, Fix Your EyesAthlete, Use Your PhoneAthlete, Worship In Every CircumstanceAthlete, Worship With Your Full SelfAthlete, Worship God No Matter WhatAthlete, Prayer Is WorshipAthlete, But GodAthlete, He Does More Than SaveAthlete, You Have His SpiritAthlete, We Are OneAthlete, Consider This Prayer TodayAthlete, Know Your WeaknessAthlete, The Shepherd Guides YouAthlete, PrayAthlete, Bear The BurdenAthlete, MemorizeAthlete, Contend for the faithAthlete, You Are KeptAthlete, Do Not ForgetAthlete, Build Yourself Up
November
Athlete, Have An Outward FocusAthlete, Make TimeAthlete, CommitAthlete, The Word Became FleshAthlete, Memorize the TruthAthlete, Be a DoerAthlete, In All Your WaysAthlete, Get WisdomAthlete, Be a FountainAthlete, Do Not Be StupidAthlete, Know Your HopeAthlete, God Cares, Do You?Athlete, Follow HimAthlete, Do Not Wait To Share WhyAthlete, Think About ReputationAthlete, It Is Check Up TimeAthlete, Do Not Fear FailureAthlete, Show LoveAthlete, Do Not ForgetAthlete, You Are Accepted
December
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