Instructions to Abraham...and to Us

I was reading Genesis 12 a few days ago, and a few things stuck out to me about the covenant God makes with Abraham (one of many total) in that chapter.  Let's look at the passage together.

Now the Lord said to Abraham,
"Go forth from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father's house,
To the land which I will show you;
And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing;
And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.
- Genesis 12:1-3

Now, when God spoke these words to Abraham, he was asking him to literally pack up and move far away and literally promising to give him many descendants, and that last line (about the whole Earth being blessed through him) is a promise that the Messiah would descend from him.  But there are also many ways this entire passage applies to us modern believers, as well.  [To those of you unfamiliar with this blog, links (usually to Bible verses I'm referencing) are in pink.]

Christ also asks us to leave our homes and families for Him.  For some people, like the early disciples and modern missionaries, but as for the rest of us, we are all commanded to value Christ far above our families, careers, lifestyles, etc.  We leave our old way of life behind and become a part of God's family. 

We are heading a different "land" that God will show us - eternal paradise with Him.  Just as Abraham's journey to his new home was difficult, so is ours - but the end destination is worth it!

We are also instructed to create a sort of "great nation" (a group of people with common heritage - in this case, being sons of God) for God by spreading the Gospel.  Through all us believers serving as the Body of Christ, bearing His message to those around us in different ways, the whole world will be blessed because they will come to know Christ through the testimony of our words, our actions, and our lives.

If you haven't yet accepted God's forgiveness, becoming one of His children, click here to learn how to do so in English, or here to learn how to do so in another language.

Any questions or comments?  Leave 'em below. :-)