Genesis 14:1-12 KJV

And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations; [2] That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar. [3] All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea. [4] Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. [5] And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim, [6] And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto El–paran, which is by the wilderness. [7] And they returned, and came to En–mishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezon–tamar. [8] And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim; [9] With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five. [10] And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain. [11] And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. [12] And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

I know I put a lot of verses to start but I want you to understand the context. In chapter 13 we saw where there was a strife between Abraham and Lot's herdman. 

Abraham has seen it best to separate from Lot, and Lot chose the plain of Jordan. It also mentions the spiritual state of Sodom, and it states they were wicked. Now we come to chapter 14, where Lot is now taking part in a war that if he would have not come to the land he would have never been apart of.

I think it amazing how many spiritual battles that we end up in that could have been avoided.

Notice that Lot chose to live there. In chapter 13 , he pitched his tent toward Sodom, but now, in chapter 14, he is living in Sodom.

He, thinking it was a great place to live, chose Sodom, and now he has to face the consequences of moving to a wicked area.

Of course, we know the king Chedorlaomer has come to siege the city for their rebellion, but Lot is now in on the siege because of what he chose.

The thought is simple today. We can not complain because we are dealing with battles or having to face consequences from our actions. This is a battle that Lot could have never been a part of had he stayed away from Sodom.

Think of all the battles that we could not have been involved had we listened to Gods word and obeyed his commands.

Think about the battles that you have gained simply because you have given into the flesh.

Think about your music, your TV shows, your facebook post, and other things that have become a battle for you to not get in the flesh and do something you shouldn't have.

If you have never been involved in certain things, then it's easy to defeat what you have not given into.

Lot could have been able to stay away from a battle had he never gone to Sodom. Think of the battles that you could have stayed away from had you not of gotten involved in the wrong music, the wrong friends, the wrong tv programs, the wrong attitudes.

We all have battles that could have been avoided, but we must ask God to give us strength to overcome whatever is against us. 

1 John 4:4 KJV

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Thank you for reading today's fire-starter devotional. If it was a blessing to you, I would encourage you to share it with someone. Also, if you have a prayer request, please send it to Justin@rtfministries.net by tomorrow evening.