The Giant Side of Faith: Abraham
We are participating in an associational event this September 21-24--a revival entitled "The Giant Side of Faith." Please be in prayer for DL Lowrie as he leads our services on September 21.
As I contemplate the upcoming service, the goal is revival by emphasizing faith.
So I pose the question, "What does faith look like?" Seems simple enough. How do you draw that picture?
Well, for Abram/Abraham, it seems to look something like this.
1. A blur: When God spoke, Abram moved. Gen. 12:4: Abram went as the Lord said. Lot went with him. Abram not only moved, he lead Lot to moves as well. Faith is motion, in a specific direction, that influences others to follow.
2. a legal document: Put your name on the dotted line, and then follow the agreement. This is faith. Put yourself on the line, then follow through. Gen. 15:5: the covenant set up between God and Abram required both parties to fulfill the agreement. God, however, designed the covenant to be his full responsibility. All Abram must do accept the terms. God will keep the agreement, even if Abram cannot.
3. Open-heart surgery/valve replacement surgery: Yes, it is invasive. But when you have a heart problem, you better do something about it, removing what is bad and replacing it with what is good. This is circumcision. Initially commanded by God as sign of his people (Gen. 17:10. perhaps as a hygienic benefit to them, as well as a symbol of their procreation belonging to God--as a people), it became a symbol in the NT for a heart that is being repaired from the cancers of sin to follow the Spirit in following God. Romans 2:29: But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.
4. A Rumbling stomach. Whether from hunger or worry, the moving stomach screams for attention. Gen. 22 reminds us that God provides our needs (a sacrifice for Abraham) and delivers us from our greatest fears (Abraham losing Isaac). Yet, we are also reminded that God ultimately requires a faith that is willing to give up every other meal and hunger for him above all.
As I contemplate the upcoming service, the goal is revival by emphasizing faith.
So I pose the question, "What does faith look like?" Seems simple enough. How do you draw that picture?
Well, for Abram/Abraham, it seems to look something like this.
1. A blur: When God spoke, Abram moved. Gen. 12:4: Abram went as the Lord said. Lot went with him. Abram not only moved, he lead Lot to moves as well. Faith is motion, in a specific direction, that influences others to follow.
2. a legal document: Put your name on the dotted line, and then follow the agreement. This is faith. Put yourself on the line, then follow through. Gen. 15:5: the covenant set up between God and Abram required both parties to fulfill the agreement. God, however, designed the covenant to be his full responsibility. All Abram must do accept the terms. God will keep the agreement, even if Abram cannot.
3. Open-heart surgery/valve replacement surgery: Yes, it is invasive. But when you have a heart problem, you better do something about it, removing what is bad and replacing it with what is good. This is circumcision. Initially commanded by God as sign of his people (Gen. 17:10. perhaps as a hygienic benefit to them, as well as a symbol of their procreation belonging to God--as a people), it became a symbol in the NT for a heart that is being repaired from the cancers of sin to follow the Spirit in following God. Romans 2:29: But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.
4. A Rumbling stomach. Whether from hunger or worry, the moving stomach screams for attention. Gen. 22 reminds us that God provides our needs (a sacrifice for Abraham) and delivers us from our greatest fears (Abraham losing Isaac). Yet, we are also reminded that God ultimately requires a faith that is willing to give up every other meal and hunger for him above all.
posted by Randy Rogers at
4:53 PM
1 Comments:
Some guy in a parking lot having car touble along with me poiinted out this overlookded part of that story:
4 On the third day (E) Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we'll come back to you."
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