Verse: Hebrews 11:8-12
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
Devotion
When I think about a leap of faith in my life, I think about when we decided to plant our church 4 years ago. In many ways I was terrified. I didn't like the fact that there were no guarantees that anyone would come. But the truth is, that wasn't the first leap that God had asked Mandy and I to make. We had been making small leaps of faith for years that eventually led to what looked like a big leap.
I wonder if the same is true of Abraham. We read here in this story that he left his home not even knowing where he was going! That's a pretty big leap! I wonder how many smaller leaps he had taken—how many smaller steps of obedience, of saying yes to God's leading—had he done in his life leading up to this?
I think we tend to only think about the big leaps, and ignore the fact that those "big" leaps are few and far between. Most of the Christian walk is made up of the day to day "small" leaps. In what ways is God giving you and me the opportunity on a regular day to take small leaps of faith, and to say yes to God's leading? Here's a few things I think about:
- Taking a minute to pray for someone you know is hurting and sending them a text letting them know you did.
- Asking someone to coffee who's been lonely.
- Praying for someone at church when God gives you that "nudge."
- Inviting that person to church who God just keeps putting on your heart.
- Volunteering to serve in that ministry or non profit that honestly makes you a little nervous, or feels like a big time commitment.
- Blessing someone financially.
- Sharing your faith with someone who is doubting.
The list goes on! There are so many every day "leaps of faith" that we can take that will teach us to trust Jesus more, and give us that great opportunity to be on God's adventure with Him. Jesus tells us that his Father is always working (John 5:17), and part of our joy is to see what the Father is doing in the lives of others (and ourselves) and join him in it.
So, what everyday leaps of faith will God invite you into?
Prayer
Show me, Lord, when you are inviting me to step out in faith with you.