By Holly Culhane
It was the first time God spoke to Abram, but Yahweh made His instruction clear…
The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation.” —Genesis 12:1
An idol worshipper, according to Joshua 24, Abram had specifically been chosen by the God of the universe to be the father of the Almighty’s chosen nation. Unexpectedly, it would seem. After all, Abram did not include the one true God in the list of the gods he worshipped.
But the Father still came to Abram.
And just as we have a choice when the Father comes to us, Abram had a choice: Would he trust Him?
Is that not our choice as well? When His Spirit prompts, calls, leads, we must decide if we want to be a sheep of His pasture. First, do we desire to seek forgiveness for our sinful nature and our past transgressions – no matter how many or how few they may be – and believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved – from ourselves and from eternal separation from the Divine, trusting Him as Lord and Savior?
Then, as the journey continues, the same question will be posed over and over again. Do we choose to trust Him when He calls? Do we choose to say “yes” to leaving our native country – whatever that represents in our lives – and go to the places He will lead us? And our answer will always depend, as it did for Abram, upon whether we firmly believe in the reliability, truth, ability, and strength of the One who called. Do we trust Him enough to follow Him, without question, as the sheep of a good shepherd follow their trusted leader?
It seems there is little difference in the call on Abram 4,000 years ago and the call on us today, both as individuals and as those responsible for the sheep entrusted to our care.
To trust. To obey. To follow.
The decisions are crucial, and the impact on our own lives and the lives of others is undeniable… and could be eternal.
DIGGING DEEPER QUESTIONS:
- In what ways does your leadership exhibit (or not exhibit) a deep trust in the Father?
- Do you continually seek forgiveness from the Father? From those you lead? And do you liberally extend it?
- Would you say that the sheep in your life follow you as a trusted leader like we are called to follow The Good Shepherd?
This is Part 1 of a two-part series. You can find Part 2 here.
