“It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.” (Hebrews 11:8-10 NLT)
Abraham is one of the people in the Old Testament who have has a great impact on our spiritual life. In Abraham’s life, we see the necessity of obeying God and living by faith.
Separation is often times a part of our development as Christians. Before we can take on something new, God may ask us to let go of something we already have.
In Genesis 12:1-3, God told Abraham he was going on a journey that would require leaving his country, his people, and his father's household. Obedience meant saying goodbye to relationships and things dear to him. The only family that traveled with him was his wife and nephew. The life he knew in his homeland was left behind. But this godly man did not hesitate. His strong faith enabled him to say yes.
Moving ahead in the midst of uncertainty is an aspect of obeying God.
Abraham was told to travel without knowing his destination. Try to imagine explaining to friends that you're moving away but have no idea where you are going. This lack of detail did not stop Abraham. Unwavering obedience and trust in his heavenly Father enabled him to answer the divine call wholeheartedly. This is in spite of the fact that Abraham did not have specific details of what God wanted him to do. Abraham was spiritually ready to say “yes” when God called.
We don’t know where God will bring us next. We don’t know what else God has in store for us. Probably in another five or ten years, we will look back and be amazed at from where we have come. But like Abraham, we must be willing we must be willing to follow God wherever it is he leads us. We must commit to follow his plan for us, no matter what.
When we look at the story of Abraham leaving his home in Genesis we notice something. Wherever Abraham goes, God meets with him. This was a big part of the reason that Abraham was able to venture into the unknown. He wasn’t going alone, but God was going with him. It wasn’t just Abraham who followed God without seeing the fulfillment of the promise. His son Isaac and his grandson Jacob also followed. And when God repeats the covenant with Jacob that he had made with Abraham, God concludes by saying: “What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.” (Genesis 28:15 NLT)
That is a promise that Has God’s Word behind it and still holds true for us today.
Obeying God requires living by faith, which means:
Trusting the Holy Spirit to guide us when we don't see how all the pieces fit together; “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.” (John 16:13 NLT)
Believing that God always works for our good and His glory; “And we know that God causes everything to work together[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28 NLT)
This really means our obedience becomes an act of worship to God. One crucial question demands an answer. “If obedience and faith are so great why do so few people live it?” The reason is that most people would rather do anything than take a risk.
If we cannot trust God to work out the details, who can we trust?
Will we be ready when He calls?
Hello Again!!
7 years ago
