Saturday, March 14th
Genesis 15:4-6
4 Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, ``This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir."
5 And He took him outside and said, ``Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And He said to him, ``So shall your descendants be."
6 Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
Genesis 12:1-3
1 Now the LORD said to Abram, ``Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you;
2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing;
3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."
Separation is often a part of our development as Christians. Before we can take on something new, the Lord 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. But this godly man didn’t hesitate. His strong faith enabled him to say yes to the Lord’s command.
To faithfully follow God, moving ahead in the midst of uncertainty may be required. 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 trust in his heavenly Father enabled him to answer the divine call wholeheartedly—even though specific details were lacking. Abraham was spiritually ready to answer affirmatively when God called.
Following God requires living by faith. That means trusting the Holy Spirit to guide us when we don’t see how all the pieces fit together (John 16:13); believing that God always works for our good and His glory; and desiring to please our Father. May we all, like Abraham, be ready when the Lord calls.