The Quest
Scripture Reading — Genesis 11:31-12:9
"Leave your country ... and go to the land I will show you." Genesis 12:1
We're tempted to go halfway with God. "I'll follow God if he shows me where he's taking me," we might say. Or "I'll go with God if I can keep my boyfriend, or control my checkbook, or keep my adult children close to home."
But that approach still assumes we are in charge of our lives. God says to Abraham, "Get out." Abraham asks our question: "Where to?" And God says, "I'll show you later; just trust me."
I have a ministry friend who told God he would serve him wherever he called, as long as it was within 100 miles of his family home in western Michigan. At first everything fell into place. My friend was pastor of a church only 50 miles from home. But while attending a church-planting seminar, God called him to California.
Another friend told God he'd move wherever God called him, as long as he moved. God called him to start a church only 20 miles from home!
Following Jesus is not an adventure we choose. It's a quest that comes to us. We are called to it.
What's more, we never really come back from a quest. We either die, or we're so changed by the adventure that we are never really the same again.
God calls people and churches and denominations on a quest to keep planting new churches.
Father, increase our faith. Give us the grace to follow you with the faith that Abraham and Sarah and Paul and Barnabas had. Use us to build your kingdom your way. Amen.
About the author — Kevin Adams
Dr. Kevin Adams has served as a church planter/pastor in the Sacramento, California, area since 1991. He and his wife, Gerry, began Granite Springs Church in Lincoln, and this congregation has helped to nourish several other church plants. Kevin also serves as a director of the Sierra Leadership Network, a training program for new church leaders.
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