Ur of the Chaldees (or Chaldeans) was a Sumerian city-state in ancient Mesopotamia, located in modern-day Iraq. It’s believed to be the birthplace of Abraham, the patriarch of three great modern religions.
The thing is, Abraham didn’t stick around. God had plans for him, and Abraham moved on from Ur to become God’s tool to change the world.
So why does the modern Church still live in the city of Ur? We show up on Sunday morning, and we need to look prettier, sing louder, pray longer, and be holier than anyone else on our pew. During the week, we expect our children to be smarter, perform better, and outshine their peers. Our spouse must be trimmer, friendlier, and richer. Our car: faster and shinier. Our house: bigger and newer. Our vacations: grander and longer.
We compare our Christian walk, our families, and our material possessions. We spend so much time trying to be “special-er” that we forget that Christ came not to gift us a plethora of material goods but eternal life through salvation on the cross. God loved us when we were unlovable, and he still loves us today.
1 Timothy 1:9 reminds us:
“[God] saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.”
We don’t need to be better, smarter, prettier, or to sing louder than those around us. Christ came to save us as we are. We must move out of the city of Ur and into the land of the Redeemed. Our righteousness and worth come though Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross. We can’t become special enough on our own to warrant God’s attention. We become like Christ through the grace of our heavenly Father.
We will change the world when we move from where we started to where God wants us to go.
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Code: FGO.H.06.17.vp.esv