LEARNING DAILY

 

Hebrews 11:8-10, It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance.  And even when he reached the land God promised him he lived there by faith – for he was like a foreigner, living in a tent.  And so did Isaac and Jacob to whom God gave the same promise.  Abraham did this because he was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.  (New Living Translation – NLT) 

 

In 1985, I moved the family to Texas.  Too many things had happened that caused me to believe it was the right thing to do.  I would like to think that it was God leading this move.  God moves in the circumstances of our lives; it was a move centered in faith that God was doing something in our lives, that He had a plan.

 

The story of Abraham begins in Genesis 12 with God telling him to leave his country and go to a land He would show him.  In doing so God made him a promise of becoming a great nation, a great name, to bless those he blessed and curse those he cursed.  God told him all families of the earth would be blessed because of him.  Faith and obedience go hand in hand.  Abraham is in the Hall of Fame of Faith because he was obedient; he knew that going to this earthly land was not the end of his travel; he was “confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations”. 

 

As we look at the call of Abraham, it is clear that he was to separate himself from his country, his family.  It establishes an important principle that God was establishing for His people – the need to separate themselves from everything that would hinder His purpose for their lives.  God was also establishing that His people were to live their life in faith because their home was not an earthly home but was a heavenly one.  They will ultimately live eternally with God in a city He had built; “there they would live in eternity with God in righteousness, joy and peace” (LSSB).  But until then, Abraham would be a foreigner, a stranger on this earth – walking on the narrow way that leads to eternal life. It is important to see that Abraham was not only promised all these blessing as they came with obligations.  He had to commit to following God.

 

The blessings of this eternal city were given not only to Abraham but was given to his descendants.  This would include not only his physical descendants but to all who in true faith give their lives to Jesus Christ and follow Him.  All who have this faith become the “children of Abraham.  Like Abraham, we must “go” in our faith.  Too often we want to know the outcome before we “go”.  Abraham went because he trusted God!  Yes, he made mistakes as he went; but God did not give up un him. 

 

I wonder what simple step(s) you and I need to take in faith?  Abraham got up when Gold told him to go and he went.  That indicates to me that when we move in faith, God’s plan is initiated.  Faith and obedience to God is the biblically the kind of faith that Abraham shows us.  Hebrews 11:8 is a reminder that the only way to please God is through faith that includes our obedience.  Our salvation is a free gift from God (Romans 5:15-16) but it does not mean we can do whatever we want.  It requires that we live our lives on that narrow way that leads to God’s kingdom and His righteousness.  It is an exciting and wonderful journey that I want to continue be on!

Just a quick note.  I included notes from someone - I had written them in my Bible.  I would like to be able to give that author credit.

 

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible