“If Abraham by what he did for God, got God to approve him, he could certainly have taken credit for it. But the story we are given is a God-story not an Abraham-story.” (Romans 4:1-3)
God’s story – not Abraham’s.
“That famous promise God gave Abraham- that he and his children would possess the earth- was not given because of something Abraham did or would do. It was based on God’s decision to put everything together for him, which Abraham then entered when he believed.” (Romans 4:13-15)
Abraham entered when he believed.
When Abraham became a believer, he began to understand that God had a unique plan and purpose forhis life. Not just a generic, one-size-fits-all plan.But a very detailed and very specific plan that had been well thought out and prepared for Abraham before he was knit in his mother’s womb. Abraham also understood that all he had to do was step into…become part of…what God hadalready pre-ordained himto be.
God had a treasure map for every detail of Abraham’s life. It wasn’t Abraham’s job to design a new map, to promote a new route, or to get others to validate his path. All Abraham had to do wasembrace – enter into- follow the path – on the map that God had prepared for him and him alone.
In short, Abrahamknew that his life was God’s story – not his. He lived his life in such a way that made others say “look what God did through Abraham” not “look what Abraham did for God.”
And so should we.
God planned for me to be a writer before I was even a gleam in my daddy’s eye.He knit certain skills into myDNA to enable me to accomplish his plan for me as a writer. He has a specific plan and purpose in mind for my writing. So, in light of this understanding, my job is to embrace God’s already preordained plan for me – not try to push and pull my way onto the writing scene.
When you really grasp this, you begin to realize that it isn’t so much about trying to be something or accomplish something, as it is to try to discover fully God’s treasure map for your life andfollow the path that He reveals to you.
What was in God’s mind’s eye as he sketched your body structure on His drawing table? Does He want you to be an Olympic runner? If so, then he would have given you long legs with a good stride. Has He prepared a bakery business for you? Thenmore than likely you will have innate love and gift for baking.
There is a popular bookby Rick Warren calledThe Purpose Driven Life that speaks to this concept more fully, but for the sake of today’s discussion, think about the things you love to do. The gifts that others have noticed in you. And instead of trying to climb the ladder of success or get noticed or validated in some way, see if you can begin to embrace God’s unique plan for your life. And discover what Abraham did, that God’s plan for you is greater than anything you could ever have planned or imagined on your own.
“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born, I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)
“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future…” (Jeremiah 29:11)