JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Person of Integrity from the Bible is Abraham.

According to James 2:23, the New Living Translation says, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith. He was even called the friend of God.”

Abraham shows us how we can have a meaningful friendship with God. Walk with Him with a trusting and obedient heart. It is better to be out of our comfort zone in God’s will than to be outside of God’s will and stay in our comfort zone.

Hebrews 11:8 says, “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. By faith, he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country.”

The faithfulness of Abraham to travel to an unknown destination inspires us to trust and obey God’s directions and to live a life of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – One of the benefits of living in this moment of human history is that we can look back at the Bible characters of the past who were faithful to the Lord and be motivated by their witness. This week, we examine some of faith’s heroes in Hebrews 11.

Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on the faith of Abraham.

Hebrews 11:8 says, “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.”

It was the voice of the LORD that was calling Abraham out of his comfort zone to unknown territory. One of the reassuring promises that God gave Abraham was, “I will bless you. I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” God delivered on His promises to Abraham.

Faith does not normally see the big picture of God’s plans, but is willing to trust God step by step, because we believe that moving forward into the unknown with God is better than staying in our comfort zone without Him.

When someone obeys God’s calling, that is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com