How to Apply the Word of God to your life: Abraham and Sarah

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Once you know better, do better…

I must admit, sometimes I don’t want to pray because I’m nervous about hearing what God is going to tell me. Something about my heart or motives that is ugly and I don’t want to hear it. Something he wants me to do that I do not want to do. The truth about an action that I must stop. The saying “once you know better, do better” comes to mind. I figured, if I don’t hear it then I can’t be disobedient, right? The following post will describe how to apply the word of God to your life by considering the life of Abraham and Sarah.

How to apply the Word of God to your life: Obedience

I prayed one day, seeking the application of God’s word in my life. There is a bible verse that has become somewhat cliche, as I have heard it many times growing up, “Obedience is better than sacrifice.” In this moment I heard God saying this to me. Growing up I have heard it used when someone didn’t like what someone else was telling them; to insist that they comply. I have come to learn by reading the bible and gaining context that, that statement was in response to Saul disobeying the instructions that God gave him through the Prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 15). He not only disobeyed, but tried to justify his wrong actions by taking what he stole and instead of destroying it, presented it as a sacrifice to God! How many of you have been there? In one way or another, I know I have.

Applying Obedience to your life

God was giving me a lesson in obedience. He said, “Obedience is better than an artificial showing of sacrifice.” Artificial, meaning “made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally.” I see this artificial showing in human beings “playing church”, wanting to be seen, hoping for recognition, or making things about themselves rather than about God. He continued to scold me, “Read the word and apply it to you, your heart. Faithfulness, Obedience and Sacrifice, not for show. Consider the ways of Abraham and Sarah.”

Consider the ways of Abraham and Sarah to apply the Word of God to your life

At this point, I am shocked and dismayed that God would speak to me this way. How am I presenting an artificial showing of sacrifice?! How could I relate to some dusty old man and his wife from the bible, in the book of Genesis no less, the beginning! The situational circumstances couldn’t be more different. Nonetheless, I humbled myself, sat and I read. Here is what I learned from Abraham and Sarah; also known as Abram and Sarai. I take it back Abraham, you’re not dusty.

What I learned from Abraham

1. Travel in stages.

Abraham did not ask God where he was going or to show him the whole picture. The Lord said, “Leave your native country…” and Abram (Abraham) “… departed as the Lord had instructed…” and he traveled in stages. (Genesis 12: 1-5, 9)

2. Worship God at every stage.

Instead of being bitter about not yet being at the destination or not knowing the destination, worship God from where you are. (Genesis 12:7-8, 13:3-4, 13:18, 21:33)

3. Do what is Right and Just.

(Genesis 14: 21-24)

4. Believe the Word of God.

Believe it even when you can’t see it. “Abraham believed the Lord and the Lord counted him righteous because of his faith” (not his deeds). (Genesis 15:5-6)

5. Live a Faithful and Blameless life.

“…the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘I am El-Shaddai — God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life.” (Genesis 17-1)

6.Intercede for the Righteous.

(Genesis 18: 22-32)

7. Commit to Obeying God.

“On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided”(Genesis 22: 7-14)

8. Be Blessed by Obedience.

“…because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that I will certainly bless you.” (Genesis 22:16)

Abraham was obedient even when he didn’t have all the answers, he didn’t know all the steps, yet he moved when God said move. Abraham was being promised something he could not see. (Genesis 12:1-4, 13:14-17) Abraham showed me how to live a life pleasing to God, how to be blessed, how to inherit the promises of God, how to remain faithful even when I can not see the work that God is doing, how to be obedient even when it hurts.

What I learned from Sarah

Wait a minute, what about Sarah? I thought to myself, what could I learn from her, she did everything wrong! While you can learn from an example of what to do, you can also learn from an example of what not to do. I also learned about compassion, extend it before judging, you may see (or not see) your own self in someone else’s mess. We all make mistakes, let’s just learn from them and be kind!

1. Wait on God.

Sarah took matters into her own hands and created confusion (Genesis 16: 2-3) and it backfired. (Genesis 16: 5-6)

2. Believe the Word of God.

Sarah did not believe the promise of God because of her and her husbands old age and laughed at it. “Is there anything too hard for the Lord…?”(Genesis 18:14) She then lied about laughing at it because she was afraid. (Genesis 18: 11-15)

3. Put the Correct Blame on the Right Person.

We often put ourselves in predicaments and get angry with other people, even get angry with God! It was Sarah’s idea. Sarah caused the issues between her, Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael. She cannot see her role in getting ahead of God and trying to fix things her own way; she blames everyone else. (Genesis 21:9-12)