"Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you." (Gen 12:1)
Walking with God is always an adventure. When God called Abraham he gave him a compelling vision of what he was going to do through his life. The promise was almost unbelievable: all nations on earth would be blessed through him. There was just one little problem. God wanted Abraham to leave everything behind and he was already 75 years old! He may have been tempted to think, "God, why now?" If Abraham had any plans for retirement, they were soon forgotten. Complicating matters further, Abraham had no children. Perhaps he had given up hope long ago. But God said it was through his offspring that the promise would be fulfilled. Though it may have seemed crazy to everyone around him, the Bible says Abraham believed God. And we have to give Sarah a lot of credit for going along with it. After all, God spoke to Abraham, not her. She too had to take that step of faith, and together they did. They ventured out, headed somewhere off the maps, not exactly knowing where they were going. They only knew God said go and when you get out there, I will bless you. The rest is history. You and I are in Christ today because Abraham and Sarah honored God four thousand years ago. The ripple effects of obedience are eternal. It's not always easy--probably never. To receive what God has for us we may have to let go of something else. In Abraham and Sarah's case, it was the comfort and security of home and family. The world was not a safe place. But God said go. Like thousands of missionaries today working on the frontlines, Abraham and Sarah considered the rewards of heaven far greater than anything this world could offer. It wasn't about being physically safe, it was about obeying God, because in the end that is the safest place you can be.
Heavenly Father, teach me to trust you each day and follow your lead, wherever you may send me.
#offthemap
Walking with God is always an adventure. When God called Abraham he gave him a compelling vision of what he was going to do through his life. The promise was almost unbelievable: all nations on earth would be blessed through him. There was just one little problem. God wanted Abraham to leave everything behind and he was already 75 years old! He may have been tempted to think, "God, why now?" If Abraham had any plans for retirement, they were soon forgotten. Complicating matters further, Abraham had no children. Perhaps he had given up hope long ago. But God said it was through his offspring that the promise would be fulfilled. Though it may have seemed crazy to everyone around him, the Bible says Abraham believed God. And we have to give Sarah a lot of credit for going along with it. After all, God spoke to Abraham, not her. She too had to take that step of faith, and together they did. They ventured out, headed somewhere off the maps, not exactly knowing where they were going. They only knew God said go and when you get out there, I will bless you. The rest is history. You and I are in Christ today because Abraham and Sarah honored God four thousand years ago. The ripple effects of obedience are eternal. It's not always easy--probably never. To receive what God has for us we may have to let go of something else. In Abraham and Sarah's case, it was the comfort and security of home and family. The world was not a safe place. But God said go. Like thousands of missionaries today working on the frontlines, Abraham and Sarah considered the rewards of heaven far greater than anything this world could offer. It wasn't about being physically safe, it was about obeying God, because in the end that is the safest place you can be.
Heavenly Father, teach me to trust you each day and follow your lead, wherever you may send me.
#offthemap