Day 15: Faith through Anything

Luke 12:32-59; Genesis 22; Psalm 15

My “little group,” Jesus says—what an interesting way to address them.  Here was this small group of ordinary people who you rested the message of the salvation of the world on, and they were no doubt uncertain of themselves and their future.  God  doesn't care how small a believer’s role, how little support they have in this world, because if they are faithful, God will bless them with the greatest kingdom ever imagined and use them for things bigger than themselves.  I hope and pray that our hearts are set on God and that we truly believe in the power and value of faith in him.

What does it mean to be “ready” for the return of the Lord?  I suppose that not clinging tightly to the possessions and things of this world.  In a moment—like this next one—could be the last and nothing that surrounds me matters.  What a powerful thought.  I suppose it also means that I must live each moment in worship and reverence and praise to God so that in the moment of his return, he would find me doing good and continuing to work the harvest.  God is generous with all people; just allowing us to breathe his air and live on his creation without coercion is great generosity.  We need to extend that same generosity and spirit of grace to others, being a faithful servant of the Living God.

These verses about making people choose sides is challenging.  People crave peace and I think that this infects Christian approaches to life and living.  Believers don’t want to the rock the boat, hurt feelings, or cause problems.  But just like brother said a while back, he must love God above mother, father, or me.  He needs to follow the direction of God, even if it angers, frustrates, or inconveniences anyone else.  What a powerful, and often divisive thought.

Wow, just when I thought Abraham was a man of little faith—he steps up and does the one thing that must have been the hardest in his life.  He must have felt like God was dragging him through the valley of the shadow of death.  He must travel and sacrifice his only son that he waited years for.  How could he understand or begin to wrap his mind around God's will?  His heart was probably breaking every step of the way, and yet—he obeyed, even in what he thought was his darkest hour.  What faithfulness!  The greatest request, the most horrifying and unthinkable thing God could have asked him, he obeyed—and not after deliberation, not after questioning,

but the NEXT day.

Abraham left a legacy because of his faithfulness that is unmatched in human history.  The entire church of the Lord is a result of Abraham’s faithfulness.  Now THAT is the incredible power of God’s promises.