It's exciting to see how God is using this group to help people mature and multiply their lives. We believe in you. You have great potential for great impact. No lie. But maybe others have not seen that in you. See what I mean. 

Why did God pick Abraham? Was it because of his great life or great potential? You'll see. Today, we're going to focus on just a short unit of thought, but it holds a great treasure for us. This brief announcement from the Lord occurs right after He appeared to Abraham and Sarah, assuring them that they would have a son in a year. So read now Gen.18:16-19 and be on the lookout for why God chose him.

Did you ever have a really good coach, teacher or mentor in your life? I didn't. Perhaps adults just didn't see any potential in me. Maybe they were right at the time. (BTW, thanks to so many of you who now honor me as one of your mentors. I love helping you.) If you were looking at a person to mentor, maybe you would have skipped over or given up on Abraham for lack of apparent potential. I can see why. Imagine reviewing your mentoring meetings with Abraham...

"Let's see, when we first met you admitted you grew up in an idol worshiping home. You said God called you to leave your father and mother to go to a land he would show you. Instead, you admitted that you took your father with you. You also admitted that you stopped halfway from the promised land God had called you to until your father finally passed away.

We've also talked a lot about your marriage. You told me you married your half-sister and that it's not been a good relationship. But I was dumbfounded when you confessed that you pawned her off as your sister to Pharaoh who took her to be his wife! And you seemed okay with that in light of the livestock and servants he gave you. Ugh! Thank God the Lord sent a plague upon them so that Pharaoh gave her back to you.

You also confided that your wife has been unable to bear you children. I know that must be hard. But I still am really disappointed that you went along with her idea and slept with her maidservant, fathering a child. I can't believe you would do that Abraham! What's more, you passively let your wife mistreat that servant girl while she was pregnant, driving her away into the desert. She could have died out there with your son in her womb! And most recently you admitted that both you and Sarah laughed when the Lord told you that Sarah was going to bear you a son. Abraham, I've sought to mentor and coach you, but I just don't see you as one who wants to walk by faith and keep the ways of the Lord."

You can understand why most any mentor would call it quits with a guy like Abraham who made so many bone-headed decisions. Thankfully the greatest mentor of all did not give up on him. God saw great potential in Abraham. Or maybe God saw that he had no potential. We've looked at Abraham up to this point and have not seen much potential in him. It would take an act of God to transform Abraham into a man of great faith and obedience. Yet that's exactly what happened- an act of God occurred. He is "the God who gives life to the dead [not much human potential in a dead man] and calls things that are not as though they were" (Rom.4:17).

God called Abraham from such a messed up life to be the father of many nations. He would eventually learn to lead his family well. Listen again to the faith of Abraham's Mentor. God said, "Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him" (Gen.18:18-19).

God, the greatest mentor of all, worked things into Abraham's life to eventually make him an effective mentor. He would teach his family to keep the way of the Lord. I'm sure Abraham didn't believe that he had the potential for much of an impact on others. He may have looked at his life and concluded he had little treasure in himself with which to enrich anyone. Maybe you've felt that way. But watch and listen to what Pastor Andy Stanley has to say. (It's in tribute to his extraordinary mentor, the late Dr. Howard Hendricks. The portion is about 10 minutes long, but worth every bit of it. Watch as much of it as you wish.)

You have a unique opportunity and the responsibility to leverage your life for the sake of others. Yes, your life is like a treasure chest. Don't let the treasure of your life be buried. The value of a life is always determined by how much of it was given away or invested in others. I'm so glad you are in The Word Online. We are not simply an online Bible study, uncovering great treasures in God's word. We are about enriching others. We will help you make a great impact on others. As you look into the treasure chest of your past, you personally know what it's like to follow or not follow the ways of the Lord. So you are uniquely equipped to speak into the lives of others.

God wants to use you in significant ways. You may not become the father of a multitude of nations, but your life could end up touching people from a multitude of nations. It's exciting to see people here who have, in a short time, multiplied their lives into several others, just by inviting them to join the team. There is no better mentor than the Spirit of God taking the word of God to help others become mature men and women of God. This happens best in a devoted team atmosphere. So it's all right here. No wonder people are sharing how they are growing so much through being on this TEAM- Together Everyone Accomplishes More. 

God had a vision for Abraham's life and he has a vision for your life as well. He wants you to be fruitful and multiply. Dare to embrace that vision and cooperate with God in making fruitful followers of Christ. As Andy Stanley said, "The value of a life is always determined by how much of it is invested in others." So multiply your life! Make that the lifelong pursuit of your life. It's the heart of the great commission we've been commanded to carry out. You'll be so glad you did and so sad if you don't. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad" (2 Cor.5:10).  Let's multiply our lives. Like Abraham's commission, let's direct others to follow the way of the Lord. You'll be so glad you did. 

1.- So write a prayer to the Lord. First, thank him for believing in you. (You're on a team that believes in you too.) Then ask him to help you invest the treasure chest of your life into others- to invite others to join you here to help them be fruitful and multiply their lives as well.  

"Do not be afraid, _________. I am your shield, your very great reward" (Gen.15:1) 
Copy these Words of Warriors for this week and place them where you can see and review them daily.
What a great verse to pass on to others. Let's look for opportunities to do so. 

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Note: If you were a member of The Word Online, you would see several powerful prayers and words of encouragement left by people like you in this section. This is a great place to be to enjoy rich fellowship and encouragement around God's word. We sure hope you choose to fill out the brief application and join us. We want to help you to be fruitful and multiply. You are a treasure and we need your help to enrich many others. 

PS: This is just to brighten your day. Studies have proven that just looking at puppies helps you feel better. Enjoy!