LIVING BY PROMISES

Genesis 12:1 “Then the Lord told Abram, “Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s house and go to the land that I will show you.”

Abraham was obviously a great example when it comes to faith. How did he ever develop such towering trust in God? What can we do to develop the same type of faith? He lived by promises, not commands. God directed Abram to do only one thing-"leave"-and in return; God would do wonderful things for him. But it did require Abram to leave his country, his people, and his relatives-in other words, his comfort zone. He had to give up the land he knew best, the culture he had grown up in, the familiar sights and sounds. People who walk by faith often hear God’s voice telling them, "You need to leave now. It’s time to move on to something new."

Sometimes that word has to do with geography, as in Abram’s case. At other times, God directs his people to leave certain work situations, sever pleasant relationships, or make other difficult changes. When you walk by faith, God never lets you settle into some area of stability. Just when you reach a certain place spiritually and decide to pitch your tent and relax for the rest of your life, God says, "leave.” This was the story of Abram. In fact, he was never allowed to settle down permanently as long as he lived.

So, Abram’s family caravan left town in a mode of living off the promises of God. That was their source, and it must be ours as well. We cannot live off the commands of God, but rather the promises. The commands of God reveal his holy character to us, but they hold no accompanying power. Instead, the grace of God flows through the channel of his promises. God will first do for us what he promised, and only then will we be able to walk in obedience to his commands. Remember, he is our source-everything must start from him.

It is true that God’s moral commands teach us where we fall short, but it doesn’t bring a solution to our human dilemma. Only the promises bring us hope, if we respond in faith, as Abram did. That is what sustained him throughout his life. By the time Abram arrived in Canaan, God was already adding more promises to the original group. He said, "To your offspring I will give this land". His abundance kept flowing.

But the great majority of us are command-oriented. Every day we wake up conscious of God’s moral law and try to do right so he will approve of us at the end of the day. This is a great struggle. We would do far better to wake up thinking about God’s wonderful promises what he has said he will do for us today. Then his power working in us will tenderly direct us in the way of obedience and right living.

The tender love of God toward us, as revealed in his gracious promises, is the only thing that draws us to a closer walk with the Lord. Abram felt so close to God that "he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD" there between the towns of Bethel and Ai. Abram’s heart reached out to God in worship. God had been so good to him, so generous, so affirming. Abram had not earned any promise or blessing by previous conduct; it was all because of grace. He could not help lifting up his heart and hands to God in adoration. Let us follow after God’s promises with the same attitude of faith.