When my mother and father died within five months of each other in Aug. 2006 and Jan. 2007,  I mourned deeply over the loss. I still remember them everyday. The grieving process reminded me the brevity of life and greater realization to be about our Father’s business. Time is short. Only what’s done for Christ will last (John 9:4). Is anything more significant than that?

Abraham provides a great example of mourning loss through the death of his wife, Sarah.  After she died, Abraham wept and mourned for her (Gen. 23:2).

Once Abraham acknowledged he was a stranger and sojourner, he then asked for a burial site to bury his wife out of sight. God gives you time for mourning as you process the truth that earth is not your true home.  There’s a time to mourn and weep over death of  loved ones and a time to move forward with life.  This applies not only to death of loved ones, but your heart surrender to God of what’s most precious to you like Abraham’s with Isaac (Gen. 22:2; 23:4).

Because sons of Heth respected Abraham, they allowed him to bury Sarah in a choice grave, which included a field and cave. Abraham paid the full price of 400 shekels of silver after negotiations. Paying market price for needed services provides a good testimony of your Christian faith. Two-way respectful relationships of mutual give-and-take with community leaders allows you to accomplish kingdom of God objectives (Gen. 23:5-16).

God provides the time to weep, time to laugh, time to mourn and time to dance (Eccl. 3:4). Abraham illustrated the truth of 1 Peter 2:11-12 as he saw himself as an alien and stranger on earth and abstained from fleshly lusts to keep his behavior excellent among the Gentiles so God could be glorified.

Memorize and mediate on 1 Peter 2:11-12. What loss or sin must you mourn and then surrender to God so He can be glorified in your life?


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