Plain Stupid by Samantha Mears

Today’s Passages – Genesis 13 – 16 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 9 – 10Proverbs 5Psalms 21 – 25)

Read the “0105 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Scripture Song – Psalm 119:105

Read previous posts from today’s passage – “Back to Square One – Almost;” “Balanced and Biblical Separation;”“Relationships are More Important than Riches;” “Gardens and Green Grass or God’s Will?;”and “Good Friends are Hard to Come By.”

Note – I stole this title from a message preached by Michael Clark

My thought this morning is from Genesis 13:1-13

“1 And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. 2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai; 4 Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.” (Genesis 13:1-4)

In the beginning of this chapter we read that Abraham and Lot came out of Egypt. They follow the calling of the Lord. 

“5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. 6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. 7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. 8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.” (Genesis 13:5-8)

Here we see that there is an abundance of blessings, so much so that it began to cause strife. 

“9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.” (Genesis 13:9-11)

In these verses we read that Lot chooses life on the plain, he is used to a rich abundance and he chooses what is comfortable.

“12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. 13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.” (Genesis 13:12-13)

Finally, we can see that Lot looked toward Sodom 

I want to take just one minute to summarize what the Lord spoke with me about in this passage, and then try to apply it to our lives. 

Abraham and his family followed the calling of the Lord to move out of Egypt, in a sense, separating from the world. They travel to Beth-el and dwell there for some time, receiving the blessings of the Lord. A little riff starts between Lot’s men and Abraham’s men, so Abraham and Lot decide to go their separate ways. Abraham gives Lot first pick of the land. Lot growing up, riding the skirt tails of Abraham’s faith and blessings, chooses the land that seems most comfortable. He chooses the plains. While I think Lot was spoiled rotten, I don’t believe this was necessarily “sin” for him to choose this spot. But, one thing led to another and Lot chose to pitch his tent towards Sodom. So he could just watch, or maybe be entertained; not to be apart of it necessarily, just to get a good laugh every once on a while…..

Here’s the deal, and I’m talking to my generation and the next generation mainly, but I believe it applies to everyone in some way. Abraham had a deep abiding love and faith. Lot just followed along, it’s what he did. It was everyday life. When it came time for Lot to stand on his own two feet, he fell. 

We have been raised watching and observing the faith of our parents and now that we are adults and having to stand, we are failing. We have pitched our tents way to close to Sodom and we are so spoiled that we have chosen the comfortable life on the plains. But is it enough to sustain us? 

The plain was not enough for Lot, he did not start off deep in sin. But he continued to watch, he continued to entertain the wickedness, until he got closer and closer. He didn’t even know how bad his life had gotten; he was having a great time and he was enjoying life. 

He was “Plain Stupid” as Bro Mike Clark once said. 

And so are we! We are living a very plain life, a very basic version of Christianity and we can’t even see how far we have gotten from the Lord and how close we are to destroying our lives. 

How deeply are we entertained by the world? I know I am. Social media, TV, the intimate fellowship with all of the unsaved people around us. We just watch, we just laugh, we just nod our heads , we just…. are living “Plain Stupid.” 

Let’s do an about face and let’s move our tents to the far side facing Canaan. Let’s allow our model to be heaven. Let’s stop loving the most basic version of Christianity and actually do something for God.

Sami and her posse.


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Gary Geiger
Gary Geiger
1 year ago

Boy if that doesn’t stoke a fire in your belly, nothing will. Good post.

Ed D.
Ed D.
1 year ago

wise counsel, amen

Phil Erickson
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  Gary Geiger

Amen!

Phil Erickson
Admin
1 year ago
Reply to  Ed D.

Amen!

Cindy E.
Cindy E.
1 year ago

That’s real good Sami. Thanks for the devotion.

Bob Fenton
Bob Fenton
1 year ago

Amen Sami. Well put, you hit the bull’s eye with the an impact of Godly and Spiritual truth.like the post

Deb Leatherman
Deb Leatherman
1 year ago

Good good message for us all. Thank you Sami.

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