Magnify the LORD by Receiving His Righteousness and Grace

"Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:" (Genesis 19: 19)

Unlike his Uncle Abram, Lot walked by sight, not by faith. Though the Bible informs us that Lot was righteous (2 Peter 2: 7-8),he lost everything because he chose to "vex his soul" with the filthy behavior of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Yet God's grace still falls on the righteous, for though a righteous man may fall, he will never be utterly cast down (Proverbs 24: 16).

When Lot saw the mercy, the grace, that he received from the angels who came to rescue him, he summoned the boldness to flee not to the mountain (which represents the law), but to a town nearby:

"20Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. 21And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. 22Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar." (Genesis 19: 20-22)

Because Lot was accepted, the angels permitted  him to flee to the city, and the city was preserved for Lot's sake. This city, which means "little", became Lot's safe haven

This picture in the Bible shows us the power of God's grace in our lives, and how we can "activate" it further. Lot is a picture of the believer who has trusted in his own efforts, who has frustrated the grace of God in his life because of self-righteousness (Galatians 5: 4). When we receive a greater revelation of God's grace, that God does not force us to endure the total consequences for our poor choices, then we magnify the Lord in our lives. When we make ourselves "little" and occupy ourselves completely with God's grace through His Finished Work at the Cross, we enjoy more of God's provision in our lives.

Peter instructed every believer to "grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord" (2 Peter 3: 18). God wants us to "magnify" him. We do not strain to seek God, but we magnify the Lord when we rest in His grace and righteousness, making it all about Jesus, and making ourselves less.