MY SPIRITUAL FATHER

The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. Romans 4:11-12

            If our father were a distinguished man, well-known and well-loved, we would tell everyone about him.  Like the kid in grade school who brags to his friends, “My daddy is stronger than your daddy,” we would probably brag about who we were related to. 

            I don’t know how you feel about your family tree.  Perhaps your line of descendants is the cause of much embarrassment.  The good news for any of us who have come to God by faith is that we get a new ancestral line.  Abraham becomes our father. 

            This father of faith made it clear that the way to God is by faith, not by works.  I am glad that he didn’t perform a long series of rigorous religious acts for a hundred years, and at the end, proclaim that this was the way to salvation.  Actually, he did something far harder; he trusted God. 

            When he took the hand of his child, led him up the mountain, and laid him on the altar in obedience, he showed us the essence of faith.  Isaac took his father’s hand and trusted Abraham through the journey to the altar; Abraham took his Father’s hand and trusted God on the journey as well.  Believing God, by faith, and looking ahead for the Perfect Sacrifice became the template for our salvation.

            For the Jew who recognizes Jesus as the Messiah and trusts Him to be his Savior, Abraham is his father.  For the Gentile who recognizes Jesus as His Savior, he also calls Abraham his father.       

            Regardless of whom we are related do, regardless of what they’ve done to make us proud or bring us shame; we have a new ancestral line to give us reason to stand tall.  Abraham is our father of faith.  All of his descendants, including Jesus, are brothers.  Family shame is a thing of the past if we walk in the truth of the Scriptures.

My journey with You is still about radical trust.  I cling to Your promises in all the places where am making my way up the mountain today.  I walk in the footsteps of my father, Abraham.  Amen