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Shortcuts are the Long Way to Get There!

Galtians #12


Everyone has a “short cut” story.  And we've all learned that shortcuts are the long way to get there.

Galatians 4:21 - 31

Here is an Old Testament story that paints a picture – an allegory of the issue at hand.  Two women – Sarah and Hagar.  Two Sons – Isaac and Ishmael.  Two ways of approaching the will of God – trying to make it happen, and trusting in God to fulfill His promise. 

1. God’s will is built around God’s promise.

His will is not built around commands but promise.  God is not commanding Abraham and Sarah to have a child – He is giving them a promise. 

Instead of looking at your relationship with God as a list of commands to fulfill,  start looking at it as a list of promises He wants to fulfill.

Move from trying to trusting.

The promise of God is to meant to empower us for His will in our lives.  Purpose without a promise is striving, grinding, and trying.  It’s Ishmael.  God calls Abraham righteous because He holds to the promise God gives him.

2.  Shortcuts are the long way to get there.

Ishmael is a picture of the effort of the flesh trying to fulfill the purpose of God.

Short cuts rob you of what you can become in the process.  Cheating to pass a test is missing the real education.

"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”   – John 3:6

There is a difference between a good thing and a God thing.

Genesis 17:20 - 21

God blesses Ishmael, but His covenant is with Isaac.

“I will stand on my guard post And station myself on the rampart; And I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me, And how I may reply when I am reproved.”   - Habakkuk 2:1-3

“Then the LORD answered me and said, “Record the vision And inscribe it on tablets, That the one who reads it may run. ‘For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal, and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.’”   – Habakkuk 2:2-3

“...that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”   – Hebrews 6:12

Promises require patience.

We are to be patiently trusting – not trying.  Surrendering, not striving.  Working, but not worrying.  Knowing – my day will come, in God’s time, in God’s way, in God’s power and in His grace