Daily Devotion, July 4, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Genesis 12:1-9.

This is an important passage, as it tells of the beginning of the close relationship between Abram and God. We are not told anything about Abram’s beliefs prior to this. God simply came to Abram in Harran and asked him to go “to the land I will show you.” God promised to bless Abram and make him known, and he told Abram that all the people on earth would be blessed through him. Abram believed God, packed his possessions, and left to go where God sent him. This act of obedience stands today as an example of great faith for Jewish persons and Christians alike.

Unlike Abram, most of us gradually ease into a relationship with God. Many Christians today grew up in the church and have no recollection of their initial knowledge or awareness of God. For others, they can remember the exact moment they first knew God. I grew up in the church, and just before my fourteenth birthday, I professed my faith in God through Christ. While most of us cannot compare the beginning of our faith journey with the dramatic beginning for Abram, there is one thing in common among the stories of our beginnings – it was God who reached out to us and initiated our relationship.

Personal Worship Option:

Reflect on the early days of your relationship with God. Can you remember your confirmation? Do you recall the sense of freedom, knowing you are cleansed of your sin? Celebrate the beginning of your journey and pray for your relationship with God to grow and mature.