Ready to Go?

“Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.’”—Genesis 12:1

How great is your faith? If faith could be measured on a scale from 1 to 10 with 1 being the smallest and 10 being the greatest, where would your faith score? And what are the criteria you are using to score your faith? Faith is always measured by what it does. Faith is not mere intellectual assent, but intellectual assent that results in action. As James wrote,

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead”—James 2:14-17.

Faith is always proven by what it does. And Abram (later called Abraham) is one of the best and classic examples of faith in action. He was one of the first men to whom God revealed Himself. And when God spoke to him, He told him to do something. He told him to leave his country, his clan, and family to go to a land that God would show him. Think about that for a moment. Imagine God telling you to leave everything you know. Leave your country and everything that goes with it—and then go to a place you know nothing about. Imagine leaving all of your family, not knowing if you will ever see them again. Leaving all of your old familiar spots, everything you are familiar with—language, customs, traditions, etc. to go to a place God would show you. Talk about faith! He trusted in God, went to the land of Canaan, and became the one through whom all of the nations of the earth would be blessed (cf. Genesis 22:18)!

So, let me revisit the question again, how great is your faith? Better yet, what is God calling you to do? And what is the step of faith you need to take to be obedient? What is God calling you to leave behind? Is it your home country? Perhaps He is calling you to be missionary and leave your life behind to go and tell others about who He is? Perhaps He is calling you to leave behind a certain relationship? Or dream? What is God calling you to do? Are you prepared to respond in faith like Abram, not knowing what the outcome will be? Know that God doesn’t call you where He Himself is not willing to go. When we go for Him at His command, He will go before you preparing the way. And you will be prosperous.

May God enable us to walk by faith and not by sight (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:7)! And may our resolve in God’s person and purpose result in a strong faith that reverberates past ourselves to challenge others, springing their faith into action! May God be seen in each step and may His name receive praise for all that comes as a result of our faith in action! Amen.