The passage I read
was Genesis 12:1-9
You can find that passage here:
The verse that most
stood out to me:
1 The
LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s
household to the land I will show you.
4 So
Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was
seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.
As I reflect:
This is a 3rd
reminder for me of the studies from these passages over a year ago. “if” and “then”. I see the majority of the promises God has
for us as “if” and “then”.
“if” you confess
your sins; “then” he will forgive and purify.
“if” you believe in
Him; “then” you will not perish.
“if” you are tempted
beyond what you can bare; “then” He will provide a way out
“if” you love me; “then”
you will obey my command.
“if” you don’t let
my people go….plagues, locust, etc.
“if” Abraham
circumcised himself and household; “then” God would fulfill His promise to
number his children as the stars.
And here in Genesis
we see it again. The “if” is,
if you Go from your country, your people and
your father’s household to the land I will show you.
The “then” is,
“I will make
you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.[a]
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.[a]
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”
Notice that Abraham
was obedient and this faithful obedience is what was counted to him as
righteousness. His belief in God went
beyond mere words. His belief could be
plainly seen by others as he was obedient.
This is not at all
an attempt to say that our actions merit salvation. But I won’t be caught saying that salvation
doesn’t merit in us action. Let us be
obedient and take up our crosses daily doing the good we ought to do, spreading
the Gospel, helping the widow and the orphan, sheltering whom we can, sharing
our cloak where in need. When God says “speak”,
may we be found opening our mouths. When
God says, “go”, may we be found on the move.
And when God says, “be still and know that I am God”, may we be found
silently admiring who He is. There are
many promises and oaths in the Bible that apply to us, but my admonishment to
all of His disciples is to remember that God’s people are to be doers and not
simply sit and await Him to do wonders on their behalf.
My response to the
Lord:
Lord, that you chose such great examples for us to follow, I
am thankful. It is clearly written and
clearly understood that when you spoke, your followers reacted. Abram reacted in obedience. May I lead my family to do the same. Open my ears, and heart to your messages and
help me to respond in such a way that reflects salvation’s work in me. In Jesus’ name. amen
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