Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

“Go forth from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father’s house,
To the land which I will show you;
² 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;
³ 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.

By faith Abraham obeyed God as we read in today’s Scripture.  “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance;  and he went out, not knowing where he was going.”  Hebrews 11:8.

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”  Hebrews 11:6. 

Thus, there are two elements of faith.  Abraham not only believed that God existed;  Abraham also believed that God was a rewarder of those who seek Him.  Regarding this last element of faith that God is a rewarder, Abraham went out “to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance” as we see in Hebrews 11:8.

It is easy to claim that we believe God.  But, it is more difficult to really believe that God “is a rewarder of those who seek Him”.  

Abraham could have rested on his belief of God and stayed and worshipped God in Haran.  Abraham could have minimized God’s promise to Abraham by thinking the only fulfillment of God’s promise would be in heaven.  Abraham could have delayed going, perhaps only later going out of a sense of duty because God commanded Him to go.  But, “Abraham went forth as the Lord had spoken to him” (See verse 4), and Abraham went out expecting that God would reward Him by going “to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance”.  (See Hebrews 11:8). 

Go forth, trusting that God is good and that “He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”         

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield;  The Lord gives grace and glory;  No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”  Psalm 84:11

“Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”  Psalm 23:6

“O taste and see that the Lord is good;  How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”  Psalm 34:8

“The young lions do lack and suffer hunger;  But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.”  Psalm 34:10

“Indeed, the Lord will give what is good, And our land will yield its produce.”  Psalm 85:12

“For the Lord is good;  His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations.”  Psalm 100:5

“Praise the Lord!  Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;  For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”  Psalm 106:1

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”  Psalm 107:1

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;  For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”  Psalm 118:1

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;  For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”  Psalm 118:29

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”  Psalm 136:1

In summary and conclusion, we are likely not called to leave our country and our relatives as Abraham was so called, but God calls us in some way to do His work and follow Him.  Let us go forth today and every day, trusting that God is good and that “He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”