Jesus is also the "son of Abraham." Living eighteen centuries before Jesus, Abraham almost didn't have a son. He and Sarah were old, decrepit, long past childbearing years; the idea of a child was sadly laughable. But God had promised.
Abraham is our greatest hero of faith. He didn't expect or receive quick answers to his prayers; decades marched by. "Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength" (Isaiah 40:31). Abraham was strong, affluent, capable - but faith required him to look for something he was incapable of doing himself, something absurd given the evidence. An angel reminded him, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:14) - just as the angel assured Mary when he announced Jesus was on the way, "With God, nothing is impossible" (Luke 1:37).
Abraham was "chosen"; his descendents are the "chosen people." They weren't chosen so they could bask in God's pleasure. God chose them to use them to save everybody else (Genesis 12:3). God chose Jesus, and used him to save everybody else - so we who are his family, his Body, exist not just to soak up God's blessings, but to be instruments, the centrifugal force of grace catapulting us out toward others. Isn't this what we all want - for our lives to matter, to be part of a group that transforms the world?
Lord, give me the faith of Abraham; use me to save somebody.
James
james@mpumc.org
