Family: that word invokes many different kinds of emotions in people. For some it brings joy; for others it brings pain. Families go through seasons in the same way nature does. Some families are living through the spring season of their relationships; their relationships have promise and potential. Some are in the summer season where everything is going great! Some families are in the fall season where the relationships are going through change. Finally, some families are in their winter season. These family relationships are drying up and are in need of life support.
Abram and Lot were family members; they were uncle and nephew. When God spoke to Abram in Genesis 12:1-2, “The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.” God told Abram to leave his family and go to a new country. There must have something special between Abram and Lot that caused him to take Lot with him when God said leave your father’s family. Their relationship was in the summer season.
Now Lot’s presence with Abram, was in disobedience to God’s command. However, Lot became wealthy because he was connected to Abram. That caused a problem for the uncle and nephew. The resources of the land could not support both Abram’s and Lot’s livestock. There was contention between their herdsmen and they fought. The people around them witnessed the discord between their workers. There came a point that they had to go their separate ways. Their relationship entered the winter season.
God gave the land to Abram; Lot was an imposter; yet, Abram gave Lot the opportunity to choose the land he wanted and that is exactly what he did. Abram knew something that Lot didn’t know. It didn’t matter where he went, he knew that God was with him. Lot chose what he thought was the best. After Lot’s departure, God spoke to Abram. “Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west. I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession. And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted! Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you.” Genesis 13:14-17.
God calls us to obey. When He spoke to Abram, He told him to leave his father’s family. Sometimes people value relationships above God. And, those same relationships can derail your future with God. Abram must have loved Lot like a son but clearly, that feeling was not reciprocated. It was not until Abram disassociated himself from Lot that God gave him the promise He had for His life. Lot was a distraction in Abram’s life. There are distractions in every life. Sometimes they are easy to identify; sometimes they are not. It’s not until you identify and eliminate your distractions that God can work in your life.
Thought for Today: Friend, distractions can derail your promise.
Have a blessed day and walk in faith and victory.
Victory Walk 
Good word. To obey is better that sacrifice.
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