Topic: Service While In Transit

Text: Genesis 17:23-27

Key Verse: All the men [servants] of his household, both those born in the house and those purchased with money from a foreigner, were circumcised along with him [as the sign of God\’s covenant with Abraham]. – Genesis 17:27

Abraham\’s walk with God started with a Call. Have you heard the call of God? God called him alone, but he travelled with many. As he journeyed from place to place, he grew in the knowledge of God\’s ways. His faith in a God he could not see but believed was not personal; he obeyed God and shared his faith with his family.

Look unto Abraham, your father, and unto Sarah, that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him. – Isaiah 51:2

It is essential to share your faith with those in your life during the transition. Abraham is an excellent example of how he did not just grow in faith, but everyone around him did.

For I have made myself known to him so that he will give orders to his children and his household after him to keep the way of Adonai and to do what is right and just, so that Adonai may bring about for Avraham what he has promised him.\” – Genesis 18:19 JCB

Our faith in God must be passed on, regardless of whether we see what we are hoping for or not. Abraham saw Isaac but did not see his descendants as many as the stars in the sky; today, that word has come to pass as an encouragement to us who are still waiting on the Lord.

As Naomi passed through the different seasons of her life, she did not notice that Ruth, her daughter-in-law, was observing her, especially her faith.

Ruth answered, \”Please don\’t tell me to leave you and return home! I will go where you go; I will live where you live; your people will be my people, your God will be my God. I will die where you die and be buried beside you. May the Lord punish me if we are ever separated, even by death!\” – Ruth 1:16-17

Challenging times are standard here on earth, but a believer must keep eternity in view. Abraham went on to raise an army of soldiers from his household. They were not his biological children, but he brought value out of their lives. Who have you trained in the things of God? Who in your household can carry on your faith? Have you invested in the spiritual development of your family as much as you have done in their academic education? Can they fight for the faith you have passed on to them? Will there be a witness of your faith in the next couple of decades?

And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. – Genesis 14:14

Sodom and Gomorrah could have been saved if there were ten righteous people; Lot had no witness among his sons-in-law and servants. Even his wife and daughters did not seem to know the God he believed in. What witness are you producing as you continue in this journey of life? Everything Lot gathered was lost in the fire, just as the Bible says everything on earth will be consumed by fire. What will you leave behind?

And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt. – Genesis 19:29

The day of the Lord\’s return will surprise us like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a loud noise, and the heat will melt the whole universe. Then the earth and everything on it will be seen for what they are. Everything will be destroyed. So you should serve and honour God by the way you live. You should look forward to the day when God judges everyone, and you should try to make it come soon. On that day, the heavens will be destroyed by fire, and everything else will melt in the heat. But God has promised us a new heaven and a new earth where justice will rule. We are looking forward to that! My friends, while you are waiting, you should make certain that the Lord finds you pure, spotless, and living at peace. – 2 Peter 3:10-14

We are in transit to our eternal home and ought to use the challenges and opportunities each season presents to enhance our eternal pursuit. We must refrain from dwelling on the absence or abundance of anything to the detriment of our goal. Use every moment to serve your generation.

For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his generation, fell asleep and was buried among his fathers and experienced decay [in the grave]; – Acts 13:36

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for calling me into your purpose; help me to keep my eyes on the goal as l serve those whom you have sent me to. Teach me gratitude and contentment as l serve your purpose in my generation, not according to cultural expectations but according to your purpose. Give me an understanding of these things in Jesus\’ precious name. Amen.

Pastor Ada

Photo by adrianna geo on Unsplash