August 14, 2008 - Acts 7:3

“’Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’” Acts 7:3.
Stephen, speaking in his defense to the Sanhedrin, began by recounting the history of Israel and was telling the story of Abraham. God called Abraham to pack up all of his belongings, to leave his country and his people, and to travel to some strange land. Amazingly, Abraham believed that God – the Only True God, in the midst of a culture that believed in many gods – had spoken to him. And that this God had told him to leave all that is familiar to him and go to a place that He, God, will show him.
I am deeply challenged by this verse, both personally and corporately, in that I believe that God is looking all over the earth for those who will say “Yes” to Him in a similar way that Abraham had said “Yes.” I believe that He is looking for those who are willing to leave the familiar; leave our comfort zones and “go to the land I will show you.” How am I responding to His calling? How are you responding to His calling? I sometimes feel that I am only making feeble attempts at responding to His call, and I wonder if I am truly trying to find that “land” that He is speaking of. And when I look at the lives of those around me, I wonder why so many of us seem to be stuck; seem to be so restless and unfulfilled. And I wonder if we are in that safe, familiar, comfortable land, and God is calling us – each of us – to an adventure that only He can lead us in. I am not talking about “salvation.” I am talking about being part of bringing God’s Kingdom to earth….the whole earth; not just our comfortable, safe, little gated communities.
Questions to consider: Do you believe that God speaks to you? If so, what does He say? Do you believe that God is calling you out of your comfort zone, whatever that would look like, and lead you to a place that causes you to be totally dependent on Him? What does that look like in your life?
Prayer: Father, may Your Kingdom come, here on earth, as it is in heaven. Please help me to hear Your voice calling me, and give me the courage to say “Yes”, no matter what that may be. Help me to step out of my comfort zone and into Your adventure. Amen.