The Greener Grass Trap: What Lot’s Choice Teaches Us About God’s Will

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 – 10; Proverbs 5; Psalms 21 – 25)

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

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 119:105

Read previous posts from today’s passage – “Plain Stupid;” “Back to Square One – Almost;” “Balanced and Biblical Separation;” “Relationships are More Important than Riches;” “Who is Melchizedek;” and “Good Friends are Hard to Come By.”

Have you ever been tempted to move for a better job, bigger house, or more exciting city—only to wonder later if you left God’s best behind?

“And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.” (Genesis 13:10)

“But the men of Sodom were wicked before the Lord exceedingly” (Genesis 13:13)

Returning from Egypt: Contrasting Desires

Have you ever been tempted to move for a better job, bigger house, or more exciting city—only to wonder later if you left God’s best behind?

The story of Lot is really a sad one. Lot came from the same stock as Abraham, lived in the same places, seemingly had the same training and influences; yet Lot had dreams and desires that were diametrically opposite to those of Abraham. In the account given us here in Genesis 13, we see Abraham and Lot both returning from a time of sojourning in Egypt. Egypt was certainly a busy place loaded with people. It had  culture, education, and more pleasures than Lot had ever seen. Abraham had his fill of the big city. He wanted to get back to the place in Canaan where he built an altar for the Lord; the place where God promised to bless him. You see, Abraham finally realized that he didn’t need all of the excitement of the big city – he just needed God.

Have you ever found yourself missing the ‘excitement’ of your old life before Christ?

Strife Over the Land

Not long after they returned to Canaan, the land of promise, it seemed that Lot and Abraham began to fuss about the size of land their cattle were grazing on and whether or not it was big enough to provide for both of their herds. These men were both already very wealthy, yet it seems that Lot wanted more. Maybe he was tired of living under the shadow of Uncle Abraham. Maybe he didn’t like all of those righteous rules that Abraham governed his home by. Lot missed Egypt. He missed the exhilaration of the city life. Abraham senses Lot’s frustration and offers to let Lot separate from him. I am sure he divided up the livestock and sent Lot away with plenty. He also gives Lot the pick of the surrounding land. He told Lot that if he chose east, he would go west. You see, Abraham didn’t need what this world could offer him: he only needed God. It seems that he had learned much from the errors of his previous move into Egypt.

The Lure of Sodom

Lot, however, decides that Sodom is the place he ought to raise his family. I believe that there were three attractions that lured Lot to Sodom:

1      There were lots of people in Sodom. Now there is nothing wrong with people. I love people and, more importantly, God loves people. Jesus died to save people. However, it seems that whenever you get a lot of people grouped together in one place, wickedness just pours right in. Verse 13 tells us that Sodom was an exceedingly wicked place. Lot should have been repulsed by it, yet instead he was enamored by it. By the way, his attraction to this large number of people was clearly not for the purpose of evangelizing them. We will learn later in chapter 19 that Lot influences no one in the city for God.

2      There was a lot of pleasure in Sodom. He said it reminded him of Egypt. The Bible tells us that there is pleasure in sin for a season; but the wages of that kind of pleasure is death. Lot was attracted to the fast life.

3      Thirdly, we see that Sodom was a place of wealth and prosperity. There was plenty of money in Sodom. It was well watered.  The livestock would do well there. Lot saw the chance to make some good money: maybe even a little more than ole Uncle Abe. Again, there is nothing wrong with money. I like what money can buy; but the love of money is the root of all evil. Lot wasn’t really concerned with the wickedness because all he could see was the dollars.

Which of these—people, pleasure, or prosperity—tempts you most today?

Don’t Chase Greener Grass

Through the years, I have seen a lot of saved people (remember, the Bible calls him “just Lot”) make the same mistake that Lot made. They leave the place of blessing where God is protecting them and providing for them, only to trade it in for a place where they think the grass is “well-watered.” My pastor in Bible College used to say that the grass may look greener, but it just might be artificial turf. Be very careful that you stay inside the perfect will of God. Don’t trade in the spiritual, eternal blessings for the temporary pleasures of this world.

This week, pray about any ‘Sodom’ temptations in your life—and share in the comments how God is speaking to you.


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Two Becoming One

Today’s Passage – Genesis 1 – 3 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 1 – 2; Proverbs 1; Psalms 1 – 5)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Deuteronomy 32:4

Read the “0101 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read previous posts from today’s reading – “Not Finished Yet;” “In the Beginning;” “He Is Still Creating Me;” “Let There Be Light;” “Just Don’t Do It;” and “Subdue and Replenish“

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. … And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. … And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Genesis 2:7, 18, 21-24)

A Book of Beginnings

Genesis is a Book about beginnings. In these first three chapters, we discover the beginning of our universe and earth, with all of the living things, including men and women, created by God in those first six days, six thousand years or so, ago. Unfortunately, we also learn about the beginning sin in chapter three, which brought about physical death and a spiritual separation from God.

The Beginning of Marriage

In chapter two, we see the beginning of marriage. God actually created out of Adam’s own body the perfect spouse for him. Had sin not entered into the world, they would have experienced a perfect relationship and a perfect life together.

The Need for Companionship

Let’s notice a few things about this first marriage. First of all, notice that the woman was created to meet a need that God knew that Adam had. He was alone. All of the animals had mates, but Adam had no-one to experience life with. God states that Eve would be “an help meet (or suitable helper).” The word “help” is a noun, meaning helper, and the word “meet” means suitable or appropriate. God made Adam a suitable or qualified helper. She would be able to meet all of Adam’s needs. She would be his companion as well as his helper, and she would bear children for him.

An Unpopular Concept in Contemporary Culture

I fully realize that the description that I just gave is not popular in our culture today, but it is what is taught here in Genesis 2. While Eve was created to meet Adam’s needs, their union shows how husbands and wives are designed to complete and uplift one another equally in God’s plan.

Paul referred to this in his letter to the Corinthians:

“For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.” (1 Corinthians 11:8-9)

Now before you ladies get mad at me, let me say that I do not believe that God created Eve to be inferior in any way to Adam. Adam and Eve were designed to complete each other perfectly—meeting one another’s needs in companionship, support, and family. I believe that Adam, though created first, was designed to meet every need that Eve would have as well. Adam and Eve would complete each other. The man and the woman were each uniquely designed by God to fulfill the areas where the other may have lacked.

Intimacy within the Marriage Relationship

The second point that I would like to make regarding this first marriage is that these two individuals were created to become “one flesh.” This means so much more than just the physical relationship, though physical intimacy is an expression and a picture of the married couple’s being “one flesh.” But “one flesh” means so much more. It means that the couple is together in every area. Every decision is to be made together, or at least with consideration to the other’s wishes. True intimacy goes well beyond the physical relationship and includes our innermost thoughts. My wife and I can often finish each other’s sentences because we know each other so well. This “one flesh” relationship should supersede all other earthly relationships. No other relationship should be permitted to come between the husband and wife.  There should be no secrets in a “one flesh” relationship; no separate bank accounts; no prenuptial agreements, just in case things do not work out. Marriage is an “all in” relationship. That is why it should not be entered into lightly. It is the biggest earthly decision that you will make in this life.

Marriage is a Picture of Christ and His Bride – the Church

We should all resolve this year to have a marriage relationship that paints a beautiful picture of Christ and His Bride, the Church.

Consider what Paul stated about marriage in his letter to the Ephesians:

  • Mutual Submission

“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

  • The Wife Does Her Part

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

  • The Husband Does His Part

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

  • The Great Mystery Pictured in the Marriage Relationship

This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”(Ephesians 5:21-33)

Resolve This Year to Work at Having a Great Marriage

Today is the first day of a new year. Those of us who have been blessed with marriage should spend some time this year reflecting on the relationship that we have with our spouse. Ask yourself if your marriage relationship is a picture of what God intended by “one flesh,” or is it more of what the world would say marriage should be. This year, consider one specific way you can better ‘cleave’ to your spouse—perhaps through regular date nights, shared prayer, or open conversations about finances and dreams. How does your marriage currently reflect the ‘one flesh’ unity God intended? What one area could you both work on in 2026?

Lord, in this new year of 2026, help husbands and wives build ‘one flesh’ unions that reflect Your perfect design and the sacrificial love of Christ for His Church. Draw us closer to our spouses and closer to You. Amen.


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Why Christians Suffer: Lessons from 1st Peter

Today’s Passage – 1 Peter 1 – 5 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – Psalms 111 – 115; Proverbs 23)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Matthew 6:33

Read the “1223 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” (1 Peter 1:6 & 7)

Have you ever wondered why God allows suffering in the life of believers? And, did you notice all of the references to suffering in this first letter from Peter?

Suffering in the Early Church

Christians in the first-century Roman Empire were indeed put to the test often due to their allegiance to Jesus Christ. Look back in the text and notice the following verses:

  • “But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;” (1 Pe 3:14)
  • “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:” (1 Pe 4:12)
  • “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” (1 Pe 5:10)

In fact, the word “suffer” appears 11 times in 1 Peter. These first century Christians certainly knew what it was like to bear the cross of the Lord Jesus. Today, there are people in other parts of our world who also are well acquainted with suffering for the Lord. They know what it is like to be persecuted, and in some cases prosecuted or even executed, simply for living out their Christian faith.

Suffering (or lack thereof) in America Today

In America, however, there is very little suffering being experienced by believers. We live in a land of freedom. We can still worship the Lord without fear of reprisal. We know little of “counting the cost” for our relationship with God. Yes, there can be cultural and family pressure here in our part of the world, and sometimes believers experience workplace discrimination, but generally the price we pay here for our faith in Christ is mild compared to what Christians are facing in some other parts of the world. Here, we are well fed, we are warm in the winter and cool in the summer, we sit on cushioned seats; we have it made. Yet, if you were to carefully examine the hearts and attitudes of many believers today, you would find that we really do not fully appreciate the freedom and luxury that we have. We don’t recognize the wonderful place of liberty that God has given us here in the good ole U.S. of A. This is not to say that we haven’t experienced other forms of suffering, such as illnesses, etc.; but I am merely trying to point out that we are not suffering at the hands of our neighbors or the government for worshipping Christ. Maybe it’s because we are very carnal here in America. Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:12 that all that live godly lives shall suffer persecution. Maybe we are not as godly as those first century Christians. This isn’t to condemn us, but to challenge us—perhaps our comfort has made us complacent.

The Real Battle: Fleshly Lusts

There is something that Peter wrote in this epistle that I think we can all identify with, however:

  • “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;” (1 Pe 2:11)

Though I do not know any Christians here in our land that are being tortured for their faith, I do know of many that are tormented because of the battle going on in their own flesh. I know that for me, the flesh is my number one enemy. I can certainly identify with the Apostle Paul when he said that the things that he does not want to do, he does, and vice versa. Maybe that is why Satan isn’t attacking us with the frontal assault of persecution. He doesn’t need to because we are already losing the spiritual battle in our flesh and our lusts are keeping us from having the effectiveness and impact in the world that we could and should be having.  See the list of the “works of the flesh” in Galatians 5:19 – 21 if you don’t know what I am referring to.

A Call to Spirit-filled Living
  • “16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. … 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Gal 5:16, 25)

Maybe if we really started walking in the Spirit, and putting to death the lusts that are wreaking havoc in our lives, then we just might get the wicked one’s attention. Don’t misunderstand, I am not inviting, nor looking forward to suffering at the hands of the devil or the world, but I do wish I was living more of a “Spirit-filled life” that is worthy of their attention.

An Added Thought Regarding Suffering

As unpleasant as suffering is for believers, God uses it at times to glorify Himself in this dark world when the sufferer remains faithful to Christ through it. Peter tells us that God purifies the believer’s faith through trials and persecution:

  • “6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” (1Pe 1:6-7)
Questions to Ponder

Have you experienced any real persecution because of your faith in Christ?

Do we truly appreciate our religious freedom?

What fleshly lusts are warring against your soul today?

Leave a comment below and let us know what battles you are facing today as you serve Christ.

[Post revised on 12/23/2025]


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