Thursday, October 10, 2024

            Abraham is often associated with the word “faith.”  His name is preserved and honored in the great Hebrews 11 chapter that we call “the hall of faith.”  In the life story of Abraham, we find some very simple statements that testify to his faith and trust. In Genesis 12, when God called Abraham (then known as Abram) to go to “the land I will show you,” his response was simply recorded as “so Abram went, as the Lord had told him” (Genesis 12:4a).  Nothing else was added.  There was no parade or big send-off.  He simply went in the direction that God had sent him.
            Genesis 12:9 says “then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev.”  When confronted with a famine, “Abram went down to Egypt” (Genesis 12:10a).  This man of faith just simply continued to move forward as God had directed him.  When he was sorely and mightily tested by God’s call to sacrifice his son, his only son, Isaac, the Bible says that “early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey” (Genesis 22:3a).  Saddle up your donkey and ride to faith and obedience!  You have to love that image!
            The lesson that emerges is one that calls us to be quick to faith and quick to move when God directs or speaks to us.  We never want to drag ourselves to the starting line.  Obedience to God is not drudgery and certainly not a reason to slow-walk our way to finally getting around to doing what God asked us to do.  Indeed, Jesus reminded us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).  Trusting God is not something onerous.  It is liberating and life-giving.
            God invited and directed Abraham to do some big things.  Consider these examples…Move away from your homeland…Go to the place that I will show you…Sacrifice your son.  We may not face such big directions from God but faith often shows up in doing the small things as well and as greatly as we can.  Our faith test may well be to serve the Lord in the course of ordinary moments and times each day rather than something momentous and attention-grabbing. 
            But we can let Abraham be an example.  We can go, set out, saddle up and move on when the direction comes from the Lord.  It is easy to become comfortable, too comfortable, in our walk with the Lord.  Comfort can lead to complacency and complacency can lead to laziness.  And laziness can lead us to grind to a halt.  Abraham was not a perfect man.  But he endeavored to take God at His Word with some sense of urgency and devotion.  That is a good example for us in the living of these days.  Hebrews 11:10 tells us that Abraham was looking past his days and times to a time to come when God would do something magnificent and marvelous.  We read, “For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”  The simple and consistent faith that we build and demonstrate today may well be used by God beyond our times to achieve His glorious plans and purposes.  Stay faithful and quickly so!  Join us for Bible study on Sunday at 9:45am, worship at 10:55am and our monthly communal lunch right after worship!  Have a great Thursday!