Was he insane? Why would a mature, dignified, well-respected, wealthy man walk away from all that was familiar?
Old Testament character, Abram, who God later renamed Abraham, took the “risk.” Granted, it was God making the request.
Why would God ask such a thing of a man? Apparently, it was for a good reason!
God had a plan to bless Abram and through that blessing, bless others.
The Lord said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:1,2)
My grandfather J.D. Clark gives the following message about the matter….
We are blessed to bless!
Note carefully what God says to Abraham: “I will bless you and you will be a blessing!” Abraham was blessed not only for himself but in order to be a blessing to others. Divine favor was bestowed on him, not for his own enjoyment, but for the betterment and welfare of others.
The same is true for any believer of Christ. The Lord has done a wonderful work of grace in our lives, but He wants it to be shared with those who do not know Him.
Although our position in Christ brings personal satisfaction, peace, and joy, we are redeemed for a purpose.
Likewise, we experience consolation from God in our distresses so that we may share that consolation with others in their time of trial.
“Paul also emphasizes this when he says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Father of all compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3,4)
Never forget these words to Abraham: “I will bless you and you will be a blessing.” Let the Lord do His work through you.
The debts of gratitude we owe God for His blessings are payable to our fellowman.
A note to my blog readers….
Thanks to my father, who gave me “the papers” for my 47th birthday, my grandfather’s words will be heard again.
Nine years ago, when I eagerly opened my mail package, I found 62 of my grandfather’s devotions. My father had re-translated my grandfather’s inspirational messages, originally composed in English, but then translated and delivered in Spanish during the 1930’s to 1970’s through a radio broadcast program called Amanecer con Dios, or, “Greet the Dawn with God.”
My Grandfather, John Daughtery Clark, (called JD) was a British-born, navy -taught (radio and morse code), gentle man, who left the world of banking to serve 55 years in ministry capacities—preacher to churches in England and Quito, hospital chaplain, missionary, Bible Institute leader, and radio broadcaster. Out of his love of the Bible and his God, the devotions were composed to be shared as encouragement to the listeners of HCJB radio station, “Voice of the Andes,” based in Quito Ecuador.
To concentrate more fully on my novel and script writing I have decided I need a guest “blogger” to fill my weekly posts for a season. My dead grandfather will be doing this. I will be sharing his words—those 30’s to 60’s radio broadcasts with the world … again, but this time in my blog (an alternative “broadcasting” method?). My grandfather’s “voice” champions a communication style that I fail to accomplish—brevity. Each piece is only about three hundred words each, but they deliver potent encouragement. (My grandfather’s communication style was “short and sweet.”)
In this “dead to alive” experiment, may all “listeners” be blessed!
Ann Clark McFarland