Imperfect People

As I have been reading through Genesis lately, I have once again been reminded how the people we meet in scripture are anything but perfect.  In fact, they are far from it!  It gives me encouragement to know that just as God was faithful to them, God is faithful to us as well.  Even in our imperfection and sin God still reaches out to us in love through his Son Jesus Christ.  Romans 5:8 says, "But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us." 

Content and Faithful

I was reading the story of Abraham and came to the last part of the story where he died.  The text says, "Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man full of years, and was gathered to his people."  Another translation says that Abraham was content at the end.  I think that is a great way to look at life, especially at the end.  We are content not that we have always received what we wanted out of life, but that we have been faithful to our God and God has been faithful to us.  Let us be content today and remember that a successful life is a faithful life. 

God's Covenant

In the 17th chapter of Genesis God appeared to Abraham and said, "I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless.  And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous."  That reminded me of how God is the only One who initiates covenants.  God initiates covenants and always holds to his end of the covenant.  God simply calls for us to be obedient to his calling in our lives and God will take care of the rest.  It might not always be easy and there are certainly challenges each day, but God's love and grace always prevails. 

So Abram Went

I was reading in the 12th chapter of Genesis today about God calling Abram.  God called Abram to leave his land, his family, and his father's household.  God was essentially calling Abram to leave everything that could have defined him and gave his life meaning.  So what did Abram do?  So Abram went.  That's it.  No long affirmation of faith or wordy testimony -- just action -- so Abram went.  Where is God calling you today?  How will you respond?  I have been thinking about where I need to show my faith not so much with my words, but with my feet.  Live into the life that God is leading you to lead.   

(We will be reading Genesis throughout the month of November)