FAITH CAPSULE: What does it mean to follow God?
Genesis 22
With submission, give yourself to the word of God, follow Him not to miss the kingdom of God.
In the journey of life, there is no exception for rich or poor that does not follow God and make it to the kingdom of God.
In the journey of life, whatever a man is holding onto against the command of God will not follow God to make it to the kingdom of God.
What are you holding on and not able to give yourself to the command of God?
Abraham is an example of a rich one that followed the command of God for him to sacrifice the life of his son. In his attempt to sacrifice his only son, God spoke to him in Genesis 22:12 records, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now, I know that you fear God since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
Abraham fears God to follow the command of God, and God testifies the fear of Abraham for His name.
In your life, whatever holds you back from giving yourself to the word of God, will keep you from following God to miss the kingdom of God.
Are you with desires to make it to the kingdom of God, a life of eternity?
Live life by following the command of God.
Elisha is another example of a rich one that left all to follow the calling of God over his life. When God called Elisha, through Elijah, he responded, “…Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you…” (1 Kings 19:20) At the initial answering of Elisha to the calling upon his life, he was reluctant to follow God because he was not ready to follow God. However, Elisha later gave up all to follow God as the Bible records, “So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.” (1 Kings 19:21)
In your journey of life, what is it that is holding you back from following God?
Is it your property or family that is holding you back from following God?
Jesus identifies what it takes to follow Him, “…you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19:28-30)
From today, live life for God by following His command, to make the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of God that is not a fiction.
Prayer for today: Ask that God will enable you to follow Him fully.