COV LIFE BLOG

Genesis 12 – Faith in the Call of God

HEART PREPARATION
The authority of God should in our minds be paramount to every other authority. As he “consulted not with flesh and blood,” when once the Divine will was intimated to him, so neither should we: it should be sufficient for us that God hath commanded any thing: there should then be no inquiry whether the command be easy or not; nor should there be any regard to consequences in obeying it: there should be in us a fixed determination of heart to fulfill his will at all events. If, for instance, the Lord Jesus Christ say to us, “If any man will be my disciple, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me;” we must not stand to inquire into the extent of the self-denial that may be requisite, or the weight of the cross which we may have to bear, but leave that to his wise and gracious disposal, being intent on nothing but the performance of our duty to him. If he add, that we must “forsake all, and follow him,” not only not loving, but actually hating, in comparison of him, our own nearest and most honored relatives, yea, and “our own lives also,” we must not reply, “This is an hard saying; who can hear it?” but must set ourselves instantly to fulfill in all its extent whatever he has required of us. If men, who know not God, despise, and revile, and persecute us, we must be ready to welcome it all for his sake; and to reply to the menaces of the most ferocious adversaries, “Whether it be right to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.” In a word, we must spare no pains to ascertain the mind of God; and, that once learned, neither men nor devils should deter us from laboring to fulfill it.

Charles Simeon

SCRIPTURE FOR REFLECTION
Acts 7:2-3
The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, and said to him, ‘Leave your country and your relatives, and come into the land that I will show you.’ 

Hebrews 11:8-10
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise… for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

MEDITATION ON THE SERMON PASSAGE
Read Genesis 12.

Notice three things in this passage: the great faith of Abraham to go when called by God, the lack of faith once troubles arises, and the faithfulness of God in fulfilling his promise. Where are you prone to doubt the good and sure promises of God? How can your faith find strength in those moments as you remember his faithfulness?

SONG FOR THE WEEK
To the Cross I Cling by Village Church