Called

The story of Abraham is so familiar to us that it can be really easy to just gloss over how amazing it is. Even before events like Abraham’s visit from angels or the binding of Isaac, the story is remarkable. The Lord calls Abram to leave his home, his family, and even his country and set out for a new land. Maybe this doesn’t seem like that big of a deal in the incredibly mobile modern age we live in, but in Abram’s day you simply didn't leave your family’s land. Plus, Abram was incredibly successful and wealthy, and he was already 75 years old!

Despite all of this, Abram heard the call of the Lord and listened. He gathered up his household and set off for a new land, not knowing exactly where he was going, but trusting that the Lord would provide for him and his family.

We might look at the call of Abram and the life he lived and wonder how we could possibly live up to such an example. We might ask ourselves if we could heed such a call. The reality is, you are already walking in Abraham’s footsteps because in baptism the Lord called you to be his own. The Holy Spirit has created faith in you. In Genesis 15 we learn perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Abraham’s story. The Lord makes Abraham an incredible promise, that he will be made into a great nation even though he is childless, “And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” Abraham was not counted righteous because of his wealth or his actions, he was counted righteous because he trusted in the promises of God.

The same is true for you. You have been called by the Gospel. You live a life of faith and obedience because through Jesus Christ your sins are washed away and you have been made righteous.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank you that you have called us by name and made us members of your kingdom. Bless us in all that we do so that the Good News of Jesus would be made known to all those that we meet. Amen.