At this stage in Abraham’s life, we see a changed man compared to his earlier years when perceived perilous circumstances caused him to lie and express doubts to God about whether or not he would really be able to father a child through his wife Sarah.
After going through various trials and tribulations and God seeing him through each time, we now finally encounter a man fully trusting and resting in the power and peace of God.
This brings us to a powerful life application principle.
It is only because Abraham accepted and allowed God to bring him through various trials that Abraham’s faith developed.
Maybe you should read that sentence again.
I suspect that for the majority of those who attend houses of worship on a regular basis, their worship practices are more religions of convenience than obedience.
Abraham’s level of obedience to God was anything but lukewarm.
Here is a man who per God’s command left everything and everyone he ever knew to set out for a hazy and yet undefined promised land.
Here is a man who was asked to kill is firstborn son because he trusted God’s command.
Abraham had every intention of plunging that dagger into Isaac’s heart before the Angel of the Lord stopped him.
Abraham’s life was anything but the lukewarm worship characteristic of most churches and synagogues in the modern western world today.
Here is an interesting quote I picked up from the Christian preacher Francis Chan from his book Crazy Love.
I really think it hits the nail on the head.
“Lukewarm people do not live by faith. Their lives are structured so they never have to. They don’t have to trust God if something unexpected happens-they have their savings account. They don’t need God to help them-they have their retirement in place. They don’t genuinely seek out what life God would have them live-they have life figured and mapped out. They don’t depend on God on a daily basis. Their refrigerators are full and, for the most part, they are in good health.”
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
I know what you are doing: you are neither cold nor hot.
How I wish you were either one or the other!
So, because you are lukewarm,
neither cold nor hot,
I will vomit you out of my mouth!
For you keep saying, ‘I am rich, I have gotten rich,
I don’t need a thing!’
You don’t know that you are the one who is wretched,
pitiable, poor, blind and naked!
-Revelation 3:15-17
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