He went out, not knowing where he was going. —Hebrews 11:8
When we respond to God's leading and call, there are a couple of essentials in “spiritual obedience”. First is “knowing”. Knowing that it is God and not your own idea of what you should do or want to do. When God sends you, He goes with you. It’s not like leaving your parents’ home. You leave and they stay.
But … if you go off on your own to do something that requires the power of God, you are doing it on your own … and you are in trouble from the start. God never asks you to do anything for Him that you can do on your own. You can do nothing in the flesh that will please God.
To know it is God, your heart must be right with Him … your relationship must be solid … your devotion to Him consistent. God examines the heart. Why do you think He chose Abraham?
The Second essential is “going”. Paul wrote …. (Philippians 3:-13-14) “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” If you are going to follow God then you must be prepared to abandon your earthly affections and to put your trust or faith in God.
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. - Hebrews 11:8-10
The heroes of the Faith were willing to put their lives, their affections, their cultural preferences behind them in favor of following God. Jesus said if you are going to follow Him … if you are going to be His disciple … your love for even your own family must be subordinate to obedience to God’s voice and His will. I have heard many men say that their priorities are God, family, then ministry. If I understand the Bible correctly .. ministry is doing God’s will .. it’s not a vocation … God may ask you to do something that requires not only your sacrifice, but your family’s as well. That is a true test of higher devotion.
I know people who think that doing comes before being. The thinking is that if I immerse myself in the work of the ministry then I will be in the will of God. That is a “works” mentality. Doing the will of God starts in the heart not in the hands. Following God for us has meant that we have not been with our family for years at a time. Do we trust God enough to believe that He is in control? Even in the lives of those on this earth that we love the most? If not, when He says go – you will say no … or maybe later which is the same as no. As if your timing is better than His.
So what is it that God has been saying to you? Nothing? Maybe you have not been listening .. or maybe you put your fingers in your ears because you don’t want to hear. This is my prayer for you ....
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. - Ephesians 3:16-21
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Do It! Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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