We Go By Faith

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

Lead Us Wherever You Would Have Us Go

“I will make you into a great nation,
   and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
   and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
   and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
   will be blessed through you.”
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.
                             (Genesis 12:1-3 NIV)

The Lord tells Abram "pack up your stuff and go. I am going to bless you and bless everyone else who blesses you, as well." Abram doesn't question if God will keep his promise. He doesn't not trust God to be with him. Abram hears the word of the Lord, believes him, and goes. He packs up everything and everyone and takes off into the wilderness to follow wherever God will lead him. He's not concerned where. He just goes.

I've often thought about this story when I've heard Pastor's say they can only answer a call to serve somewhere if it is near a good school; if there will be jobs available that will enhance their spouses careers; if it's not too hot; or too cold. We can find so many reasons not to go where God would have us go. I've also known Pastors who have packed up everything or sold it all and with their families went off to live and serve in mission fields in areas that many others would never even consider worth visiting. 

God told Abram to move and he did. He simply trusted God. 

If God l is calling you to reach out and go somewhere or do something; won't you listen, trust him, and follow wherever he would lead? Our Lord, Jesus did; after all, promise you a marvelous thing: that he would be with you even to the end of the age. What greater blessing can there be than that?

God's Peace - Pr. J

Be Not Afraid!

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:8-11 NIV)

Fear not! Don't be afraid! We read an awful lot in scripture that we are not to fear. We are not to be anxious about anything. Angels showing up and bringing you a message of peace actually would probably cause a little anxiety just in the fact that angels have shown themselves to you.

Yet, in the midst of anxious times, we can have peace. The angels proclaimed to the shepherds, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2: 14) This peace that God brings is kind of amazing. As we grow in the LORD, we will find that we do know a sense of peace no matter what kind of chaos is around us. It may still be troubling, but we can be at peace knowing that God has a good plan for it all.

The point is sometimes things happen in our lives that might cause us a little anxiety; but, we should know that God is with us and in that knowledge we can know peace no matter what is going on in our lives. Can you imagine a pregnant young woman and the man she was engaged to traveling cross country to sign up to pay taxes? When they get to their destination there is no place for them to stay so they stay in a barn where the baby is born. Can you imagine sitting in a field with the guys watching the sheep settle in for the night and you have this heavenly host singing in the heavens? I'm thinking it was probably, at least, a little unsettling. Yet, the shepherds listen to the angel and go and see this baby that is to bring peace to the world.

Anxiety and peace - sometimes you can have them almost simultaneously. Being anxious about something is human nature; yet, in the midst of unsettling times, we can know that God is with us and we can His peace that surpasses all understanding. Thanks be to God!

God's Peace - Pr. J