February 22

“The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” —GENESIS 12:1

Abraham’s story casts a very long shadow throughout the Bible. He is mentioned over 300 times, including more than 80 times in the New Testament. Those who practice one of the three monotheistic religions; Judaism, Christianity and Islam all hold Abraham in a revered position.

But Abraham’s relationship with God did not come automatically. There were peaks and valleys; high moments of elation with God and low moments of disobedience and deception. His walk with God was a journey as it is for every Christian. All kinds of things happen to us externally, but God’s primary interest is in what is happening to us internally. Whether good or bad, they become God’s workshop for making us into who He wants us to be. This was true for Abraham, as it is for us, and we’ll often discover the deepest work God does in our lives is accomplished through our toughest circumstances. 

Abraham was called to leave his country, his people and his household. He had a choice; obey God or disobey Him; trust God or distrust Him. It was a choice between the comfortable and familiar or the unpredictable and uncertain; a choice between the easy road or the challenging road. We are all called to make similar choices, but in our 21st century thinking, that would be high risk. Classic wisdom of our day usually starts with the end in mind, but with God we don’t always know what the end is going to be. Still, we want all our ducks neatly in a row – the what, the how, the where and the when. Our journey with God isn’t likely to be smooth sailing. We’re going to meet with obstacles and setbacks that may be very discouraging, but it is in these times, God is changing us on the inside, preparing and equipping us for His purpose. 

The key to accomplishing anything God has called us to do is not in knowing the how, when, what or where, but to know who we are going with. That was the issue with Abraham. He had no idea of where God was calling him, but he knew who he was going with. If our security lies in knowing what is going to happen next, we are not living the way God intended. Our security lies in God, alone, and though our journey with Him will often include a trek through the wilderness, it is lived out of a relationship with a God who knows what He’s doing and is totally capable and totally trustworthy. 

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for a deeper work of your Spirit to change me into who You want me to be, and equip me to be used by You. Thank You, Lord.

TO REFLECT UPON: How has God changed me the most to be of service to Him?