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Shepherd Daily Devotional

Unlike his father

Written By Benjamin Dankaka

God will not ask you to do something that will not succeed.

Terah (Abraham’s father) had initially desired to stay in Canaan. The Bible didn’t tell us that he got that idea from God. Unlike his father, Abraham’s decision to move to Canaan was inspired by God. In other words, it was God’s will. While Terah appeared to have followed his own will, Abraham, seemingly, was a man who depended on God’s will. For that reason, one can say that Terah represents people who often think their future is in their hands whereas Abraham represents those who depend on God for direction in life.

Possibly, if God was the one who asked Terah to move to Canaan, Terah wouldn’t have stopped at Haran. If he had been instructed by God, Terah would have probably felt obliged to complete the journey even if he encountered challenges. Although Abraham faced obstacles along the way, unlike his father, he never gave up because he was aware of God’s presence. Because Abraham knew it was God’s plan, he stayed committed. If God is asking you to fulfill an assignment, know that He would see you through. God will not ask you to do something that will not succeed in the end. Fear not!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am willing to do your will. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Genesis 12:4-9

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

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Shepherd Daily Devotional

Motivation is Key

Written By Benjamin Dankaka

God is aware of your needs.

When God called Abraham, He said to him, “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” Although, Abraham had to leave his country, he was consoled by the promises that God made to him. Abraham must have been motivated with the fact that God had chosen him to be the father of many nations. Recall that this was a man who didn’t have a child of his own. All of a sudden, God showed up and said, “I will make your name great…”

As I noted yesterday, Abraham already had a lot of possessions when God called him. So wealth wasn’t really his problem. His real problem was legacy. For that reason, God assured Abraham that his walk with Him will not only lead to a fruitful land but would result to him becoming the father of many nations. So Abraham decided to follow God. By obeying God, all peoples on earth have been blessed. God is aware of your needs. If He is asking you to embark on a journey with Him, comply even if it means losing everything you currently have.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, use me to save lives. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Genesis 12:2-3

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

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Shepherd Daily Devotional

By Faith

Written By Benjamin Dankaka

Whatever God tells you to do, do it in faith.

When God asked Abraham to leave his country and his father’s household to a land He would show him, Abraham obeyed. He complied even though he was already doing well in Haran. Recall that Abraham wasn’t poor and wretched before God called him. According to the scriptures, “He (Abraham) took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran…” In other words, Abraham left Haran as a wealthy man and then set out on a journey to a land he didn’t know. No doubt, Abraham took a leap faith.

Oftentimes, God would visit you when you are comfortable, at a time you are not expecting Him. So His “call” may seem strange because you would wonder why He is disrupting your peace. You might even be tempted to think the revelation is just a figment of your imagination. In handling such situations, be mindful of who you share your revelation with. Asking other people to interpret a revelation can get you off track. In fact, you might even have to be careful with what your mind is telling you. Whatever God tells you to do, do it in faith.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me a discerning heart. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Genesis 12:4-5

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

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Shepherd Daily Devotional

Move!

Written By Benjamin Dankaka

It’s time to do what God wants you to do.

As Terah ended his journey in Haran, living in that country became normal for Abraham and his family. For Abraham, it was a case of following a tradition that had already been created by his father. He might have resolved to stay in Haran, lead the family that his father had left, build his business and possibly adopt the culture of Haran. Clearly, Abraham didn’t have his own vision. Whatever it was that he had planned to do wasn’t really different from what his father had done. But just as Abraham was settling down, God showed up.

God said to Abraham, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you”. So Abraham left. We don’t know how long it took Abraham before he obeyed God’s instructions. The Bible didn’t say. But we know that when Abraham got that message, he obeyed. Possibly like Abraham, you’ve had an encounter with God but then have been in your comfort zone for too long. You’ve been sitting in that room, thinking you can’t go beyond the limits that others have set for you. It’s time to do what God wants you to do. Move!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me the courage to do what you want me to do. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Genesis 12:1-4

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

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Shepherd Daily Devotional

Beyond Limits!

Written By Benjamin Dankaka

God’s plan might be different from your father’s plans for you.

Do you know that Abraham’s father had intended to live in Canaan? The scriptures say, “Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there”. Instead of getting to his destination, Terah settled in Haran and died there. The Bible didn’t tell us why Terah didn’t get to his actual destination. However, he might have ended his journey in Haran because he changed his mind.

Interestingly, Abraham didn’t try to live Haran until God called him. Possibly, after his father’s death, Abraham had decided to remain in Haran. Abraham might have decided to sustain his father’s legacy. He might have thought it was proper for him to follow his father’s footsteps. Abraham didn’t try to go beyond his father’s limits. But when God met him, everything changed. I don’t know what you are going through at the moment. Perhaps, like Abraham, you are trying to be like your father. I want you to know that God’s plan might be different from your father’s plans for you.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, May I not be limited by my father’s achievements. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Genesis 11:27-32

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.