Genesis chapters 12-16

"The Lord had said to Abram, Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you."  Genesis 12:1

Today I'm stuck on the first scripture of our daily Bible reading.

"[Urged on] by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go. [Prompted] by faith he dwelt as a temporary resident in the land which was designated in the promise [of God, though he was like a stranger] in a strange country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs with him of the same promise.  For he was [waiting expectantly and confidently] looking forward to the city which has fixed and firm foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God." Hebrews 11:8-10

Jesus had a similar conversation with another young man, but it went a different direction.

"And a certain ruler asked Him, Good Teacher [You who are essentially and perfectly morally good], what shall I do to inherit eternal life [to partake of eternal salvation in the Messiah’s kingdom]? Jesus said to him, Why do you call Me [essentially and perfectly morally] good? No one is [essentially and perfectly morally] good—except God only. You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not witness falsely, honor your father and your mother. And he replied, All these I have kept from my youth. And when Jesus heard it, He said to him, One thing you still lack. Sell everything that you have and divide [the money] among the poor, and you will have [rich] treasure in heaven; and come back [and] follow Me [become My disciple, join My party, and accompany Me]. But when he heard this, he became distressed and very sorrowful, for he was rich—exceedingly so. Jesus, observing him, said, How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!"  Hebrews 18:18-24 AMP

"But Jesus said to him, A man was once giving a great supper and invited many; And at the hour for the supper he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, Come, for all is now ready. But they all alike began to make excuses and to beg off. The first said to him, I have bought a piece of land, and I have to go out and see it; I beg you, have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to examine and put my approval on them; I beg you, have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and because of this I am unable to come. So the servant came and reported these [answers] to his master. Then the master of the house said in wrath to his servant, Go quickly into the great streets and the small streets of the city and bring in here the poor and the disabled and the blind and the lame. And the servant [returning] said, Sir, what you have commanded me to do has been done, and yet there is room. Then the master said to the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges and urge and constrain [them] to yield and come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you, not one of those who were invited shall taste my supper. Now huge crowds were going along with [Jesus], and He turned and said to them, If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his [own] father and mother [in the sense of indifference to or relative disregard for them in comparison with his attitude toward God] and [likewise] his wife and children and brothers and sisters—[yes] and even his own life also—he cannot be My disciple."  Hebrews 14:16-26 AMP

I am convicted today by God's word. Am I ready to sell everything and follow Jesus to some unknown place? Not really. But I want to be! I want to change! 

Recently, someone told me the reason so many missionaries never retire is because there is literally no one willing to take their place. Wow. 

"Then He said to his disciples, The Harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few." Matthew 9:37 AMP

I think of some dear friends of mine, Liana Oneal and Patrick and Shelly O'Malley. 

Liana has a heart for missions. She is amazing. She works hard and saves up her money, then goes to Poland. When the money runs out, she comes home, and does the same thing over again. I just talked to her last week. She is now planning to take a course on teaching English in other countries so she can go to the mission field and be self supporting. She is an amazing young woman.

Patrick and Shelly are incredible young people as well. They got married and immediately began saving money. Just like we do here in America, right? We carefully chart our course in life, saving for the first car, the first house, deciding when to have the first child... and on it goes. But they had a very different vision. They started planning their first missions trip. They saved almost enough for living expenses for one year in Latvia. Then Pastor Grant invited members of Calvary Gospel Church Madison to sacrificially give in an offering. Done!!! They are currently in Latvia doing an awesome work for God. 

God is calling us to action today. What dreams are in your heart? God gives us our dreams. We put a cap on them. We make excuses as to why we could never fulfill them. It's time to lay our excuses down and say yes to God. 

Will you go? Will I go?