Students at the University College in Dublin watched as a mother duck waddled over a cement wall and landed one meter below. For her, it was nothing special. But for the yellow-feathered babies following her, it was an inconceivable feat. The ducklings peeped and milled around on the ledge above their mother. Finally one little duck jumped, landed on his side, and rolled to his feet. He chose to follow his mother, and his leap led to his siblings doing the same thing. Soon they all bounded from the ledge and trailed behind their mother as they continued their journey.
Abraham exited the land of Haran where he’d been living with his father’s family, for God told him, “Leave your native country, your relatives . . . and go to the land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). As an incentive, God promised that Abraham would be famous—that he would found an important nation and that “all the families on earth [would] be blessed through [him]” (Genesis 12:3).
To experience these good things, Abraham had to have enough faith to follow God into unknown territory. “He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents” (Hebrews 11:8-9). Faith in God motivated Abraham to move, and it enabled him to exist in an unfamiliar place.
According to Abraham’s example, stepping out in faith is often uncomfortable. It requires us to let go of our own logic at times—to give up the security of knowing what comes next. Yet the Bible tells us, “Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be able to stand firm” (2 Chronicles 20:20). Our faithful God gives us the faith we need to follow Him!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Luke 1:57-80
More:
Read James 1:2-4 to see one result of faith in our lives. Refer to 1 Thessalonians 3:7-8 to see how our faith can affect other believers.
Next:
What’s the difference between having great faith and having faith in the greatness of God? According to Hebrews 11:6, what’s the relationship between having faith and pleasing Him?
praise the lord on June 8, 2015 at 6:43 am
The example of the little ducklings is a wonderful example. But like the little duckling sometimes I don’t land on my feet but I land on my side. My reflections on the devotional I am afraid took a detour. The question for today is “What’s the difference between having great faith and having faith in the greatness of God?
When I look at Peter and how he denied Christ three times that was a failure. He was definitely a follower of Christ. But Jesus didn’t let Peter’s failure (sin) define him and neither did Peter. John 21:15-17 Jesus three times times called Peter Simon son of Jonah. Jesus had renamed Simon Cephas which means rock. Jonah typifies Christ the Sent One raised from the dead and carrying salvation to the Gentiles. Three time Jesus asked Peter do you love Me. Peter responded the third time “Lord You know all things; You know that I love You” Jesus told Peter to Feed his Lambs Feed his Sheep. God is faithful He can use me even when I fail and those failures can be shared to help others to come to faith. There is nothing I can do to make God love me any less or any more than He does already. This is truly the greatness of Our God. I truly believe in obedience and I know that is the point of the devotional but this is what the Lord said to me today.
Tom Felten on June 8, 2015 at 10:12 am
Jen, I can only imagine what raced through Abraham’s mind when God called him to leave all he knew to follow Him to a new land and a huge calling. Often, I’ve felt overwhelmed and inadequate when faced with the risk of following God through a new door of serving Him. Each time, when I have walked through the door, however, He’s blessed with me with all I’ve needed to see His power shine through my weakness. Praise Him.