Thursday, June 9, 2011

Called to Grow in Faith

1Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.  4So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him… -Genesis 12:1-4 (KJV) 

No sooner are we introduced to Abraham of the Old Testament do we find him to be a man of tremendous faith.  The Lord told him to leave the land where he had been living and go to the place the Lord would show him.  How many of us would have been hesitant about such a move?  No doubt many of us would have wanted at least some idea of where our new home was going to be.  However, Abraham went as the Lord had instructed him.  Abraham already had a relationship with the Lord, and God desired to draw Abraham closer in a way he had not experienced.  The Lord still does the same for us when we are faithful.  

A vital aspect of faith is a willingness to trust the Lord in any and all circumstances.  Anytime we find ourselves facing difficulties and trials we are called to continue trusting the Lord and looking to Him in faith.  God is going to reveal His will to His faithful servants, yet the Lord always does so in His time and according to His plan.  Ours is to be faithful and wait upon Him.   

This all sounds like a great challenge, and indeed it is.  However, our spiritual power comes from a daily walk with Christ as we seek Him in prayer and devotion.  How easily we can become comfortable where we are.  Rising up and following God’s leading always takes us out of our comfort zones and into new levels of faith and commitment.  While the Lord may not be calling you to leave your home or the place you are living right now, He is calling you to a deeper and closer walk with Him.  Complacency has ever been an enemy of vibrant faith.  Christ calls us out of complacency and apathy and into a living, breathing testimony of Christian devotion. 

Do not be like the man who sat inside his house as the floodwaters were rising.  He finally went to the second floor, and then as the waters continued to rise he went to the roof.  A rescue boat came along and they told him to get in.  “No thanks,” said the man, “I’m fine right here.”  Such a position is precarious and uncertain. 

The Lord calls us to step out on faith and be committed in ways we have never before experienced.  Trust the Lord, stay in His Word, seek Him in prayer, and make the most of the opportunities He has provided to serve Him. 

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