Unpacking Sunday's Sermon: Abraham

In our culture the goal of many people is to be settled: to stay in one place, in one job, with one person, rather than moving around or changing. A good life is a life where people have been able to establish something for themselves that is permanent and sustained. 

The life of faith the vision is by comparison much broader and wider. Yes, God calls us to the promise of something permanent and lasting. But this involves us willing to foregoe that vision we could achieve by ourselves, and pursue the larger promises God sets before us.

We see this in the life of Abraham. On his own he could certainly aquire land, achieve some sense of security and significance, and even find ways of growing his family. He might even run for mayor of Harran some day!

But God appears to him and offer him something even better. God promises him undisclosed land, untold blessings. Abraham is promised fame. Abraham is told he will lead a nation. Abraham is told that he will be the center of all the blessings God is preparing to pour out on the world. 

Receiving these promises was not automatic. Abraham needed to give up that smaller vision he could accomplish for himself, to receive those big blessings God had set before him.

Is it possible that we risk not receiving the big blessings God has for us, by our unwillingness to set aside the small hopes we have for ourselves? The older I get the more I realise that the life of faith invovles risk and courage. To realise God's promises means responding to God's call. And responding to God's call often means setting aside the dreams we have for ourselves.

So where is God calling you to take a risk in your life? What smaller dream will you need to give up? What bigger promise is God setting before you?

Image: Wenceslas Hollar "God calls Abraham"