The Call of Abram …
The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. Genesis 12:1 (NLT)
The call to Depart – God spoke to Abram in his darkness and called him into His marvelous light that shone on a new path. Abram was called, and in doing so everything that had shaped his life to that point was to be left behind. It was only when Abram father died was, he compelled to a greater measure of obedience. Abrams had a partial obedience up until the time of his father’s passing away.
The promise that God spoke was not removed because of his disobedience rather it was delayed. Until he was ready to activate what God had initially asked the fulfillment of the promise was delayed. It was only when he became obedient that what God had spoke and the promises that were given started to come forth in his life.
What God had spoke and the promises that were given started to come forth in his life.
Abram’s life would end up a hero of faith where he is recognized in Gods word as the father of those who believe. Yet his life did not start out that way. We see his life as a life that we can learn from, and the effects that happens when we alter what we have been asked by God to accomplish and do.
Abram was a man who was called by God yet made many errors in his ability to properly follow the instructions that the Lord had given him. If we wonder why, it is a real picture of you and me. We to receive many instructions from the Lord but very seldom do we immediately get it right the first time.
For many of us we stumble and fall, and after several attempts we get it right.
Yet we are embraced during those moments of apprehension and uncertainties. God knows our weakness, and that faith requires action. Any movement is in deed movement, yet there are always consequences for not fully embracing God and what he desires to accomplish through our lives. We see this clearly in the story of this great patriarch.
Only when Abram started to move in the right direction did the promise start to unfold. Even that was compromised when the Lord had instructed him to leave his family behind yet his nephew became part of his journey. His nephew was a consistent problem that Abram could have avoided if he had only listened and obeyed.
You need to understand that he was required to leave everything he loved, and that it needed to be left behind. His instructions were then to follow the call of God to a new land. He was to leave his home, his relatives, his region, his religion. He did not know where he was going or when he would arrive.
He needed to trust all matters into the hands of the Lord.
Thing will never work out well when we listen partially. We can avoid many pitfalls that the Lord sees by becoming obedient to what we are asked to do. Where we wind up in trouble is when we second guess what the Lord has spoken and put our own take on what we were asked to do.
When we place man over God it means that we are weak when it comes to being obedient. We try to please God and man with the same breath. We act out the scenario in our own minds and justify our actions but fail the test. Our alliance needs to first and foremost be unto the Lord.
Only when we are faithful with a little can we expect to receive more.
Note: When we receive the call of God, it is a call for that person to sever all ties with the past life. As we enter into this new life, we have new priorities and a new Lord over our lives. The Lord’s call is for total commitment. A total surrendered heart. We will never arrive at this place without mistakes along the way. It is these very misstep moments that actually are used by the lord to establish His very character into our DNA.
We never arrive with this all worked out rather through the process we are humbled and brought to our knees. A surrendered heart is a pliable and teachable heart. One that has learnt that it is better to be obedient than to offer sacrifices. Anything that does not come forth from obedience is of no value.
Partial obedience is still disobedience.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. (Matthew 16:24 NLT).
The call that the Lord gives, is for each believer to leave behind the old life, and to begin a new life of faith, where we no longer rely on our own ability, but rather put our confidence in His ability for our every need. That is the nature of the call. When God calls, it is for you to follow without concern about where you will end up.
There are many times where God puts his call upon those who are His. The story is different than Abram’s but the process is the same. Much can be learnt when we study that in which has been given to us as instructions. Our part is to make the time that is necessary so we can overcome areas where we have in the past faltered and waivered in.
We like Abram’s story have a story that is being written about each and every one of us. As we learn to walk with God and become obedient to his ways, we to shall reap in the promises that comes to a life that has allowed obedience to have its way in our hearts. It is this very thing that is required to work out of us all that remains that is defiant and rebellious to pleasing God instead of man.
God is asking that we put our confidence in the fact that He will work out all the details, according to His purpose and plan. He is calling us into a life of surrender to His call, regardless of the cost, where it leads, or how much it hurts. The Lord’s call is still the same today … will you Follow Me!
The Lord’s call is still the same today … will you Follow Me!
We are instructed in His word that we are to die daily to this very thing, pick up our cross and follow Him. It is here where you can actually expect for Jesus to show up and offend you. In that moment you are given that choice that many are called and few are chosen and even fewer remain faithful. This walk of faith is not for the faint of heart.
Question: Where are you at with giving up your own way?
“Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I will show you how.” (Matthew 16:24 MSG)
