Mar 17 Devotion: Living By Faith

4).  And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but  he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.  5).  And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, so shall thy seed be.  6).  And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

                             GENESIS 15:4-6 (KJV) 

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. (SEE GENESIS 12:1-3). 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 (SEE 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.

-IBC