"Keep Your Minds Fixed on the Things Above" - ABRAHAM "PUT FAITH IN JEHOVAH"

When Jehovah asked Abraham to move with his family to the land of Canaan, Abraham  willingly obeyed.  Jehovah rewarded Abraham for his faith and obedience by making a covenant with him.  Jehovah told him: "I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you" (Genesis 12:2) Many years went by, and Abraham and Sarah still did not have any children.  Did Abraham wonder if Jehovah had forgotten his promise?  At this time,  life was not easy for Abraham.  He had left behind his comfortable life in the wealthy city of Ur and had traveled more than 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles)  to the land of Canaan. He and his family lived in tents, did not always have enough to eat, and at times were in danger from thieves.  (Genesis 12:5, 10; 13:18; 14:10-16) Yet, Abraham and his family did not want  to go back to the comforts of Ur.  - Read HEBREWS 11:8-12, 15.

Abraham "put his faith in Jehovah" and did not focus on "the things of the earth." (Genesis 15:6) He thought constantly about God's promises to him.  Jehovah saw Abraham's faith and said to him: "Look up, please, to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to do so.' Then he said to him:  "So your offspring will become." (Genesis 15:5)  When Abraham heard this, he knew that Jehovah had not forgotten him. Every time he looked up at the stars, he would remember Jehovah's promise to give him many descendants. And when Jehovah's time came, Abraham did have a son, just Jehovah had promised. - GENESIS 21:1, 2.

Like Abraham, we too for waiting for Jehovah's promises to come true.   (2 Peter 3:13)  If we do not keep our minds fixed on the things above, we might feel that these promises are delayed and we may not be as zealous for Jehovah as we used to be.  Maybe in the past you made sacrifices for Jehovah so that you could be a pioneer or serve in some other special way. But what are you doing now? Are you like Abraham, who did as much as he could for Jehovah and looked ahead to future blessings?  (Hebrews 11:10)  Abraham "put faith in Jehovah" and was counted as God's friend. - ROMANS 4:3. 

Next time: "Keep Your Minds Fixed on the Things Above" - MOSES "SAW THE ONE WHO IS INVISIBLE

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