“…Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house…:”
Genesis 12:1 (NKJV)
Life has taught us that a godly family is the bedrock of a healthy society. In our list of priorities, God comes first whenever decisions are to be made. For many years, I could not understand how Abraham was considered righteous. How could this be possible without Jesus Christ? Now, I understand that God simply needs complete surrender and unquestionable obedience from all His disciples.
The Word of God says in Genesis 15:6, “And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” James further referred to Abraham’s obedience to sacrifice his son in James 2:23, reinforcing the importance of Abraham’s relationship with God when he recorded, “…Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. And he was called the friend of God.” (NKJV). We normally sing the song, ‘I am a friend of God,’ but do we adhere to the flip side of that statement? God requires us to listen to Him and be obedient as He tells us what is on His heart.
Leaving the comfortable and familiar for the unfamiliar could be a challenge. What can be learnt from Abraham is that one should not question, not look back, but just move in obedience. In Luke, we have a starkly different account as Jesus described the cost of discipleship. Let’s examine Luke 9:61-62 (NKJV). In this account, Jesus was still in the process of selecting more disciples. Verse 61 says, “And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me go first and bid them farewell who are at my house.” Jesus responded, “…No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God” (verse 62).
The words uttered by Jesus must be examined carefully by every believer. Returning to say farewell could be dangerous. One’s relationships could be so strong that many considerations may confront you – plans for the future, an incomplete assignment, etc. But here are some comforting words: “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:29 – NKJV).
God will always reward us for obedience.
Read: Proverbs 21:21; Romans 2:6
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 28; Mark 11:1-26; Leviticus 7:11-38; Leviticus 8
Amen. Let us be obedient to GOD’s WORD