Read Genesis 12:1-9. When the Lord nudged Abram to leave behind everything that meant, “home,” there were no specific details other than, “I will bless you so that you will be a blessing.” Abram made the life-changing decision to go, taking with him his wife, his nephew, and his possessions, trusting God’s promise. Every sign along the way would have caused most people to turn back towards home. The promised land was already occupied by the Canaanites, and a famine set in shortly after they settled there, prompting another move to Egypt. Yet, at each stage, Abram built an altar as a symbol of his trust in God’s promise. It was not to be easy, but to be a blessing to untold others was, in Abram’s mind, worth it.
When you have difficult decisions to make in life, what do you take into account? Do you concentrate on the impact the decision will have just on you and the ones closest to you, or do you consider the broader implications? When the going gets tough, do you have a tendency to give up or do you stay the course? Can you think of a time when you questioned a decision you had made, but felt God’s presence and guidance, despite your doubts? Today, consider what step in faith God might be calling you to make.
In prayer, ask for a trusting heart that is willing to see the journey through.
Read Psalm 33:1-12. In this call to praise, the psalmist celebrates the faithfulness of God. God is faithful to all of creation, breathing life into the heavens and the earth. Righteousness and justice and awe are inspired in the hearts of all people by God’s steadfast love. According to the psalmist, the wisdom of God is more trustworthy and longstanding than anything we could come up with ourselves.
Who are the people you view as wise? Who do you turn to for counsel? What traits make them trustworthy? To what degree does their advice reflect the values of your faith in God?
Offer your own prayer of praise today, citing specific examples of God’s steadfast love.
Read Romans 4:13-25. As Paul recounts Abraham’s journey, he reminds his readers that when God made a covenant with Abraham, the only requirement was for him to trust in God. He did not have to earn God’s faithfulness. It was given as a gift of steadfast love. In the same way, we are reconciled to God through the grace of Jesus Christ. There is no list of rules we must obey to receive that grace. We simply need to trust. Trusting is not always as easy as it sounds. We live in a culture that is transactional, where we are taught we have to earn love and friendship and kindness. Grace is given not because of what we’ve done, but because of who God is. Any goodness we enact in our lives is the fruit of that gift, and, I would imagine, is a delight to God.
Consider any good you have done in the past week. What were your motivations in being kind or helpful? Did you do it to receive the gratitude or admiration of others? Did you do it to earn an extra measure of God’s grace? Or did you do it because the goodness of God dwells deep within your spirit?
Today, give thanks for the grace offered to you through Jesus and pray for a trusting heart.
Read Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26. In this series of events, Jesus teaches us an important lesson about faith. The first scene has the Pharisees confusing faithfulness to the Law with faithfulness to God. They feel their observance of Jewish law frees them to judge others, to exclude, and to justify ignoring the needs of hurting people. Jesus sends them away to think about what God really wants of them.
Along comes a religious leader asking Jesus to lay hands on his daughter who has just died. This father’s love for his daughter and his faith in Jesus’ power to heal is stronger than his commitment to keeping the Law, which prohibits touching a dead person. Next, a woman who, according to the Law, should have no contact with anyone due to her chronic bleeding, wades into the crowd and reaches out to Jesus. Rather than rebuke her for breaking the Law, he commends her for her faith, offering healing and hope. In each episode, Jesus shows us that extending welcome, healing, and hope are the benchmarks of faithfulness.
What keeps you from interacting with people who make you feel uncomfortable? Which unwritten “rules” makes some people worth your time and others not? What do you believe God requires of you?
Today, offer a prayer of confession for those times when you have sought to justify ignoring the needs of another and find assurance in the mercy of Christ.