Today's Scripture readings are from, John 11:5-8 and Genesis 12:1-5.

5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. 7 Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”

8 The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?”

Genesis 12:1-5.

12 Now the Lord had said to Abram:

“Get out of your country,

From your family

And from your father’s house,

To a land that I will show you.

2 I will make you a great nation;

I will bless you

And make your name great;

And you shall be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you,

And I will curse him who curses you;

And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

4 So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan.

Our narrative in John 11 today paints a vivid picture of the disciples' understandable fear and hesitation to follow Jesus to a hostile place. Jesus had already faced a serious threat from the religious leaders in Judea. Yet, despite the danger, Jesus calls them to go back.

This encounter highlights a recurring theme in the Christian life: the call to trust Jesus even when it requires us to take significant risks. However, when we trust in Jesus’ plan, rather than our own we can have 100% confidence that the outcome will be for His glory and our good.

From the very beginning, God's primary command to humanity has been simple: trust and obey. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve failed this test by disobeying God and choosing to trust the serpent's words over God's. This act of disobedience brought sin and its consequences into the world. However, God demonstrated His grace and patience by providing a way to restoration through His Son, Jesus Christ. Centuries later, Abraham exemplified true faith by readily obeying God's seemingly impossible commands, such as leaving his homeland and offering his son Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham's unwavering trust in God, even in the face of immense trials, serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of prioritizing God's word and trusting His plan, regardless of the circumstances.

The Old Testament provides numerous examples of individuals who demonstrated unwavering trust in God, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges.

Hebrews 11:8-19 recounts the story of Abraham, who, by faith, obeyed God's command to leave his homeland and journey to an unknown land. This act of obedience required immense faith, as it involved leaving behind the familiar and venturing into the uncertain.

Just as Jesus called His disciples to trust Him, He calls us today to step out in faith, even when it feels scary or uncertain. This may involve:

- Sharing your faith with a friend or family member.

- Forgiving someone who has deeply hurt you.

- Stepping down from a position of comfort to serve others.

- Following a new career path that aligns with God's will.

Reflection: How has God asked you to follow him into a perceived risk?

What was the outcome?

How can you truly know God’s plan for your life?