What Love Gives

After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. - Genesis 15:1

God told Abraham, "I am your reward".

Love always gives, but what does it give? Itself.

And that is enough.

- fritz

God in the Circumstances

And [God] said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it. - Genesis 15:7

Abraham lived in Haran when he heard God's call on his life.¹ Terah, Abraham's dad, had years before moved the family there from Ur, about a thousand miles away.² As far as Abraham was concerned his faith adventure started in Haran, but not according to God.

Ur was from where God said he brought Abraham from, not Haran.

The circumstances and events in our lives are not random events until we find Christ; from our very beginning, God is actively involved orchestrating our character, composition, and desires to bring us to himself.

"God ... separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace" - Paul (Galatians 1:15b)

- fritz

^{1 - Genesis 11:31-12:3
2 - Link: Where was Abraham's UR?}

Sacrifice is not the only thing required...

And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon. And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not. And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away. - Genesis 15:9-11 (KJV)

Abraham was interacting with God and was called to present a sacrifice, which he did; but he did something more.

The bible makes a point to mention that when the buzzards came down to feast he drove them away.

The significance?

Whenever we purpose to do something for God, a sacrifice of our time, talents, or treasure, there is always something that tries to spoil it. We must, like Abraham, be alert to and drive away any attitude or action that would try to make our offering of less value.