Faith and Obedience
Feb 9, 2019 9:27:31 GMT -6
Post by Gene Whitehurst on Feb 9, 2019 9:27:31 GMT -6
Heb 11:8 “By faith Abraham when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.”
By faith, . . .
When he was called,
Obeyed, . . .
Not knowing where . . ."
Abraham was seventy-five when he received his call.
Was he in the best of health? Do you think he had any ailments? He may have suffered from recurring gout, poor vision, diabetes, ulcers, and any number of problems that comes with age. He could have had genetic weaknesses and was sickly. Does He not understand your problems when He calls? Do you think that you will never be sick if you are in the Lord’s service? Do you think that it is your fault? If you are down on your back in bed, sick with the flu, do not condemn yourself as if you were a terrible person.
His wife obeyed him and followed him. She was not an obstacle, but don’t think that they never had any disagreements. And when our most intimate relationships suffer, we suffer even the more. And after they left their hometown to go to NOT KNOWING WHERE, do not think that there was peace between them every day. After all, they never returned home. This departure was for the rest of their lives. Any man or woman would want to return to friends and family – or at least have a hope to do so.
And what about distractions? Don’t think for a minute that all was smooth for Abraham. I’m sure he had periods where he was physically exhausted and worn out from attending to family and household and travel duties. He may have been robbed; ill spoken of; or spent hours and days trying to resolve conflicts between Lot and other members of his family. It happens in our lives and surely it happens to every person – whether Christian or not.
We must keep in mind that God knows about every distraction coming your way? He has accounted for every distraction in orchestrating a plan for your life. Trust Him through those distractions. Do not think that you are on your own until the distraction is over. He is with you before, during, and after the distraction. And what about second thoughts? At seventy-five, Abraham no doubt thought about his life back home. Whether security, income, prosperity, or family, surely he was troubled about this from time to time. He probably wondered about the wisdom of his decision and questioned God – why could not some younger person – more adept – be the one called to such an arduous task!
Scripture pays the highest honor to him. It says that he obeyed. In spite of the dark days or valleys that he traveled, he kept on doing what God asked him to do. God understands sickness and exhaustion and even our discouraged days. He aches for you when you are on a bed of affliction. He is not patting His foot waiting impatiently for you to return to service. He is going through the valley with you.
And when you are discouraged, He whispers in your ear that He is your strength. You feel like a failure when you are discouraged. He does not walk away from you when you have your times of depression. He is right there. He is speaking. Ask Him to bring to mind those verses that help you to keep on obeying – even when you are stumbling along.
John 14:26, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”
Listen to His voice. Be quiet in your soul. Trust that He is ministering to you. He will NEVER forsake you. Do not keep your eyes on your problems; but keep quiet and see the Lord at work – and keep on obeying.
“I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!” (Heb 13:5b AMP)
By faith, . . .
When he was called,
Obeyed, . . .
Not knowing where . . ."
Abraham was seventy-five when he received his call.
Was he in the best of health? Do you think he had any ailments? He may have suffered from recurring gout, poor vision, diabetes, ulcers, and any number of problems that comes with age. He could have had genetic weaknesses and was sickly. Does He not understand your problems when He calls? Do you think that you will never be sick if you are in the Lord’s service? Do you think that it is your fault? If you are down on your back in bed, sick with the flu, do not condemn yourself as if you were a terrible person.
His wife obeyed him and followed him. She was not an obstacle, but don’t think that they never had any disagreements. And when our most intimate relationships suffer, we suffer even the more. And after they left their hometown to go to NOT KNOWING WHERE, do not think that there was peace between them every day. After all, they never returned home. This departure was for the rest of their lives. Any man or woman would want to return to friends and family – or at least have a hope to do so.
And what about distractions? Don’t think for a minute that all was smooth for Abraham. I’m sure he had periods where he was physically exhausted and worn out from attending to family and household and travel duties. He may have been robbed; ill spoken of; or spent hours and days trying to resolve conflicts between Lot and other members of his family. It happens in our lives and surely it happens to every person – whether Christian or not.
We must keep in mind that God knows about every distraction coming your way? He has accounted for every distraction in orchestrating a plan for your life. Trust Him through those distractions. Do not think that you are on your own until the distraction is over. He is with you before, during, and after the distraction. And what about second thoughts? At seventy-five, Abraham no doubt thought about his life back home. Whether security, income, prosperity, or family, surely he was troubled about this from time to time. He probably wondered about the wisdom of his decision and questioned God – why could not some younger person – more adept – be the one called to such an arduous task!
Scripture pays the highest honor to him. It says that he obeyed. In spite of the dark days or valleys that he traveled, he kept on doing what God asked him to do. God understands sickness and exhaustion and even our discouraged days. He aches for you when you are on a bed of affliction. He is not patting His foot waiting impatiently for you to return to service. He is going through the valley with you.
And when you are discouraged, He whispers in your ear that He is your strength. You feel like a failure when you are discouraged. He does not walk away from you when you have your times of depression. He is right there. He is speaking. Ask Him to bring to mind those verses that help you to keep on obeying – even when you are stumbling along.
John 14:26, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”
Listen to His voice. Be quiet in your soul. Trust that He is ministering to you. He will NEVER forsake you. Do not keep your eyes on your problems; but keep quiet and see the Lord at work – and keep on obeying.
“I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!” (Heb 13:5b AMP)