Wednesday, April 08, 2009

The Journey of Faith

scripture

Genesis 22:1 Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.” 2 “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” 3 The next morning Abraham got up early.

observation

What awesome obedience! God told Abraham to go and do this difficult thing and the next morning Abraham got up early and got ready to begin the journey that God had sent him on.

Every day God attempts to send someone on a journey of faith, I say attempts to because the person he invites doesn’t always go on the journey with him, every day we have a choice. Will we get up early the next morning and go or will we stay in bed and never step out, will we ignore the voice or argue or will we faithfully obey?

Abraham stepped out peacefully, the Israelites grumbled and complained through their journey. Jonah decided to take a journey in the other direction

The disciple’s journey before Jesus resurrection could be summed up in a scary boat ride in a big storm when Jesus asked them “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!”

I never did meet a person that enjoyed having their faith tested, maybe you are being tested by God through your financial situation or your health condition, maybe God is just being quiet when you want him to speak up, whatever the situation is it isn’t easy to take the journey but God wants you to get up the next morning and keep on going.

When Abraham came to the mountain he kept on traveling, climbing the steep terrain, he is an old guy by now but he didn’t stop his journey. When he got to the top he had to build an altar large enough to sacrifice his son on, but he kept on his journey, then the test was complete when the Lord saw that Abraham’s faith was strong.

Notice in verse five that Abraham told the servants that after they worshiped God that “we” will return. Abraham fully expected that Isaac was going to be walking down that mountain with him later that day.

application

We need to be strong and not give up hope while we take the journey of faith. Where is he taking me, where is he taking you? In order to be found faithful we have to get up the next morning and keep on with our journey no matter how difficult it is after all that’s the part that displays our faith.

prayer

Lord, increase my faith! Give me more and more faith as I follow you on this journey of faith. Just like Abraham I don’t know where I am going but I know that you will show me the way and provide what I need to be obedient.