Beliefnet is pleased to present an inspirational devotional from the gifted Christian author Brian McLaren. This is week 3 of the 8 week-long devotional. If you missed the previous entries, stay subscribed to this feed to start over.
God doesn’t abandon creation, but intervenes, establishing a special relationship with a man named Abram and a woman named Sara. Their descendents, beginning with Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, will bring blessing to all the peoples of the world. They will be God’s people, pioneering a path of faith for all people to follow, in covenant with the living God.

The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.
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.
I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
So Abram left, as the LORD had told him . . . . (Genesis 12:1-4)

JOURNALING PROMPTS:
8. When have you felt in some way contacted by God? How have you received a sense of calling for your life? Tell that story.
9. Sometimes we feel that a sense of calling like Abram’s is missing in our lives, or that it’s not articulated well enough. Write a prayer or other expression of desire for a clearer sense of mission.
10. Take the calling of Abram above and paraphrase it into terms that apply to you. What do you have to leave? Where do you need to go? What will you become? What might God want to do “through you”?
–Brian McLaren