Go. Believe. Do. Abraham's Covenant -- December 17, 2012

The school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut dominated the beginning of our class.  Our hearts break for the families of those who were killed.

One big question was "What do we tell our kids about the shooting?".  Here is a website with some great information from the Crisis Management Institute for talking with your kids.

The lesson yesterday was about Abraham and his covenant with God.

The first scripture passage was Genesis 12:1-4.  This is the first time God appears to Abraham (then known as Abram).  God lays out a vision for Abraham.

Abraham had done nothing meaningful in his life to warrant special favor from God.  In fact, Joshua 24:2 says that Abraham's family worshiped idols before God appeared to him.

It's the same way with us.  You and I did nothing to deserve the grace that God gave through Jesus Christ.  We just have to accept it.

With no reluctance, Abraham packs up his family and possessions and heads to the land God told him about.  If you had to sum up this passage in one word, it would be "GO".

The second passage was Genesis 15:1-6.  This takes place years after the first scripture we saw.  God had promised Abraham many blessings, but it hadn't happened yet.  Abraham was getting impatient.

Here's a great song about what Abraham and his wife might have been thinking.  It's called "Who But You" by Mark Hall and Megan Garrett.

The one word I saw in this passage was "BELIEVE".

The final scripture was Genesis 17:1-14.  To help you understand this passage, here's a commentary from Michael Jr. on "Father Abraham".

The one word from this one isn't what you'd think.  The word is "DO".

God did not call Abraham to have a cerebral faith.  God didn't want a "head" faith; He wanted a "heart" faith.  He wanted a faith strong enough to make Abraham DO something.

It's the same with us.  We aren't told to keep our faith to ourselves; we're supposed to do something with it. 

Our book has a great quote by Tullian Tchividjian:  "Christians make a difference in this world by being different from this world; they don't make a difference by being the same."

So what were the three words we came up with?  "GO".  "BELIEVE".  "DO".

Does an echo of these three words come in the New Testament?

How about this?  "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

That's from Matthew 28:19-20.  It's a little thing called the "Great Commission".  It's in red because it's straight from Jesus' lips.

GO.  BELIEVE.  DO.  Three words we all need to live out this week.

Make it a great week!

Loyally yours,

Darren Bayne

“My grandmother told me when I was little, about 4 or 5, that if I ever found myself in danger to look for a house that had flowers growing in the front yard – growers of flowers would help keep me safe.”  Elizabeth Hilpert