Daily Devotionals for Women - Today's Encouraging Word from Scripture

THE OPPOSITE OF SELF-CENTERED

“Please tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?” She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah. We have plenty of both straw and fodder, and room to spend the night.” The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord and said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the Lord has led me in the way to the house of my master’s kinsmen.” Genesis 24:23-27

For the most part, people are consumed with themselves. Any passion they feel about life has to do with something that directly affects them or their family.

I have to fight self-centeredness, don’t you? It’s part of the default nature I inherited from Adam. For the most part, I don’t recall getting something I really wanted as a child and willingly offering it to someone else instead. No, I clutched it to myself and said, “Mine!” Such is the stuff of sinful human natures.

What strikes me today about Eleazar is the spontaneous burst of praise that erupts when God confirms that Rebekah is the wife for Isaac. He is so elated for his master that he stops to worship and exclaim God’s faithfulness. Quite frankly, I’m struck by the times I’ve made a commitment to someone, fulfilled it, and said, “Whew, that’s done!” I enjoyed crossing it off my list. What a contrast between Eleazar and me.

It would be good to consider how many I would make sacrifices for. How many am I really invested in? How many outside of my family? Jesus made the Christian life pretty simple. He boiled it all down to loving His Father and loving others. I can hear His specific words in my spirit as I’m writing this. “No greater love hath any man than this, that he lay down his life for his friend.” Eleazar’s whole life revolved around serving Abraham. It was not done begrudgingly ~ as evidenced by just this part of the story. With his response before my eyes today, I can see that the ongoing transformation of my heart, until I am glorified with Christ, has to be my priority with God.

Willing to serve You, Lord? Or eager and happy to serve You? I’m searching my heart. Amen

Journal Question: The first friend each of us is called to give our lives for is Jesus. Talk to Him about whether or not your heart is engaged with joy, resignation, or obligation.

For more from Christine Wyrtzen and Jaime Wyrtzen Lauze, please visit www.daughtersofpromise.org