Sunday, February 17, 2008

Lenten Devotional

Way to Go!
Genesis 12:1-4a

William Green

The Lord tells Abram (later Abraham) to go... God knows where. "To a land that I will show you." There "you will be a blessing"--or, rather, in the original Hebrew he's given a command: "Be you a blessing." His example and influence are to be for the good of the whole world. And so Abram set out, not knowing where he was going--and not at all sure of himself, as we soon see.

We have come to associate faith with self-confidence and a good sense of direction, as though it were a prayer-mounted GPS. Instead, it's a way to go amid uncertainty and self-doubt when our direction is unclear and apprehension can run high, as with Abram.

God can't steer a parked car. Moving ahead in faith doesn't mean having a map and knowing the way. It means getting unstuck. Once we start moving, sometimes simply going out on our best hunch, we will be shown where we're meant to go and how to be a blessing, to others and ourselves, too.

Prayer: Almighty and merciful God, inspire in me the trust of Abram. Grant me the assurance that amid all I don't know, you go with me, showing me the way in the spirit of Christ. Amen.

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