Jim Burns Homeword Daily Devotional for Parenting and Christian Family

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HomeWord - Sept. 19, 2008

 

The Blessing in Following
This devotional was written by Robin Dugall

"Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Haran. 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. 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’” Genesis 11:31ff

This section of Genesis is one of the most courageous stories ever recorded in the history of humanity.  God makes a covenant with a man named Abram before Abram even had a clue about Who God is.  I find that extremely risky.  It is like getting an email with instructions for you to go to a corner in your neighborhood in order to receive a million dollars.  Any sane person would be suspicious.  You wouldn’t have a guess at what you might be encountering when you got to that corner.  It was the same for Abram.  Not only is Abram called by God, but Abram is challenged to take an astounding step of faith.  In fact, the Bible says God had a single command for Abram to act on: “Leave. Leave everything.” Imagine the conversation that Abram and Sarai must have had:

Abram: Sarah, pack up all our belongings. We’re moving away from everyone and everything familiar to us.
Sarai: Where are we going?
Abram: I don’t know exactly. I’ll know it when I see it.
Sarai: How will we know if we get lost? Who are you going to ask for directions?
Abram: We won’t get lost. God will tell me when we get there.
Sarai: God who?

There’s a principle at work here that also applies to us. It could be called the “Principle of Separation.” God works in us as we take the risk of separating ourselves from that which holds us back from becoming all that God dreams we can be.  God says, “I want you to separate from your old values, your old priorities, your old identity. I want you to separate yourself for Me in the mission and lifestyle that I have for you.”  That’s the way of God:  separated by Him so that we can be used by Him.  This principle was at work in a man named Abram whose life would never be the same after that first step to follow God.  How about you?

GOING DEEPER:

  1. How has God called out to you?  How did you respond?
  2. Think about what Abram was going to receive as a result of following God.  What has God blessed you with as you have boldly followed Him?  

FURTHER READING:
Hebrews 11:8-11

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