In this series of Church Without Walls we’re suggesting to you that church looks like spending time with God. Spending time with God makes room for the Holy Spirit to meet your deepest needs. We encourage personal devotions using scripture to guide us as a helpful tool in allowing God to work in our hearts. In this devotion, we hope you discover the God who sees you.
Make room for the Holy Spirit to meet your deepest needs.
CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS ACTIVITY CHALLENGE
Devotion Activity #2
Genesis 16: 1-16
The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” (verse 7)
Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are God Who Sees”; for she said, “Have I not even here [in the wilderness] remained alive after seeing Him [who sees me with understanding and compassion]?” Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi (Well of the Living One Who Sees Me); it is between Kadesh and Bered. (verses 13-14)
THE GOD WHO SEES US
Abram and Sarai were desperate for a child, in fact, so desperate they took matters into their own hands. Sarai gave her maidservant to her Abram and she conceived a child. At this news Sarai mistreated Hagar, and Hagar fled.
She ran from all she knew, feeling hopeless and dejected hiding by a spring in the desert. Yet even when she fled, the Angel of the Lord found her and brought her hope and comfort, reminding her that The Lord sees her and knows her. He reminded her that God is “El Roi” – the God who sees us.
How we choose to see God in our circumstances affects our walk with God and others.
Consider these questions as you ponder this story:
- Have you been in a season where you have felt hidden from God? How did God bring you hope and comfort in this season?
- When is it you feel most “seen” by God?
- What other names of God bring you comfort?
DEEPER STUDY
If you’re the kind of person that enjoys deeper contemplation of bible stories, head over to this page and enjoy the content.
https://www.biblewise.com/bible_study/questions/hagar.php
CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS
As we do “church” a little differently in this summer series, take some time to reflect on the fact that God is “El Roi”. Contemplate what this means for you and discuss it with someone else.
How can you be the hands and feet of Jesus and show someone love this week?