Living By Faith

I was reading from Genesis chapterr 12 this morning, where God tells Abram (later Abraham), "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you" (vs 1).  In this calling, God does not give any of the important details one would like to know before pulling up stakes and heading out such as where am I going and what will I do when I ge there.  The Lord tells him to go and along the way he will be directed.

Abraham, the Father of Faith, begins his walk of faith, which will be the call of all disciples as "the righteous will live by faith" (Rom 1:17).  We are not called to work out a detailed plan before making a commitment, we are called to make a commitmen to follow the Lord and then follow his lead in our lives.

It is not that we cannot or should not make plans in life but that we need to "seek first the kingdom and his righteousness" (Matt 6:33a) and accept the fact God may overrule or redirect at any point.  As Solomon said, "Many are the plans in a pesons's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails" (Prov 19:21).  When we are committed to God, we willing embrace his contol in our lives and his right to make course corrections at any point.

Living by faith doesn't mean that we keep our eyes closed to reality but that we keep our hearts and minds open to the Spirit.  Reality isn't only about the things we can see.  So often there are things happening in the background of which we have no knowledge.  That big promotion may put a big target on your back.  You may now be in the crosshairs of  enemies you never knew existed - you may even elevate your profile for Satan.  A move may move you closer to trouble.

On the other hand, moves and job changes and such may be God opening your life to blessings and opportunities.  The question is "Are you looking to and listening for the Lord or are you just making your own plans and doing your own thing regardless of or without thought of God's will?  Remember, it is in followng God's prompting and seeking his will that "all these things (your needs) will be given to you as well" (Matt 6:33b).

Living by faith is to accept the testimony of God's Word and listen to the prompting of His Spirit, which means that you are opening the Bible daily and daily opening your heart in prayer.  Living by faith is not a leap in the dark, it is a walk in the Light.  Jus' Say'n.