Rise and Walk

Our devotional journey together begins with Abraham, who is called the “Father of all who believe” (Romans 4:11). God gave Abraham the blessing of descendants as countless as the dust of the earth and as numerous as the stars in the sky. The dust of the earth refers to his natural descendants, who are the Jewish people; and the stars in the sky reference spiritual descendants. You are those sparkling stars belonging to the family of Abraham. So know that as we look at his life and the life of his descendants that this is our family history and your own legacy of faith.

Abraham was not always a father full of faith; he began walking with God when he was only “Abram.” This is where we start: when the Lord first called Abram to step away from all that he knew into an unknown life with God that would change his entire identity and impact on earth. His relationship with God gave him the authority to reclaim all the enemy took captive (Gen 14), and to intervene with God on behalf of those he loved (Gen 18). His separation with natural family meant unity with the supernatural heart of God to save, redeem, and deliver.

Once Abram was alone, the Lord spoke to him: “Lift your eyes; look up from where you are to the North, South, East, and West…” The order of directions are so intentional: it all starts from above, in the North, where the Father sent Jesus from His heart down (South) to earth to remove our sins as far from us as the East is from the West. Look up from where you are to the North, South, East, and West… Lift your eyes, child of Abraham, and look to the Cross!

“All you see I give you. Rise up and walk the length and breadth of the land which I give you and your descendants.” In the Cross we do see God giving ALL - body and soul - to save us; and in that all-encompassing love we are empowered to rise up and walk through every aspect and dimension, the whole span of life on this earth. His love has given us the ground.

The same revelation that Abram saw at the start of his journey with the Lord is the same vision that launches us on our devotional time together. Know that as we lift our eyes to see the Cross and walk together through the depth and breadth of all it means for us, I will be praying for you:  

“…that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in along with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.”

Ephesians 3:18-19, MSG