Genesis 17:1 (CJB) “When Avram was 99 years old Adonai appeared to Avram and said to him, ‘I am El Shaddai [God Almighty]. Walk in my presence and be pure-hearted.’”

Genesis 17 records a defining moment in Abraham’s life. He is ninety-nine years old. The promises of God have been given, but not yet fulfilled. And in this moment, God does not burden Abraham with a long list of commands. He gives him one simple, weighty instruction:

Walk in My presence and be pure-hearted.

In the next chapter, God reveals why He chose Abraham: because Abraham would walk faithfully in God’s ways and teach his family to do the same (Genesis 18:19). Abraham’s leadership was not rooted in control, charisma, or achievement—but in faithful obedience flowing from relationship.

It is important to notice that Abraham lived before the law of Moses. There was no Sinai, no tablets of stone, no written code defining righteousness. God entered into a unilateral covenant with Abraham—a one-sided promise that was not initiated by Abraham and not dependent on Abraham’s performance.

God chose Abraham.
God promised descendants and inheritance.
God committed Himself by grace.

In this way, Abraham’s story mirrors the story of the Christian man.

Scripture tells us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. We did not initiate the relationship. We did not earn the promise. Christ came to us with grace, mercy, and love, not law. He revealed Himself to us for salvation, calling us out of selfish living and into a transformed life of serving God and others.

Just as God gave Abraham His presence, God has given us His Holy Spirit. We do not walk alone. We are empowered to live pure and godly lives—not untouched by struggle, but no longer enslaved to the world’s rebellion and rejection of the One True God.

The call remains simple, but not easy:

Walk with God. Live before Him. Obey Him from the heart.

When we do, we show ourselves to be true descendants of Abraham—not merely by blood, but by faith. We fulfill God’s promise when we walk in love, obey His command to love Him and love one another, and live in grateful response to His grace revealed to us through Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

This is the foundation of a man’s purpose.
This is the anchor of provision.
This is the clarity that orders our priorities.

Run Today’s Play: Simplify your obedience.

Today, don’t chase outcomes—walk in God’s presence.

• Begin the day by consciously acknowledging God’s nearness.

• Ask one clear question: What does obedience look like right now?

• Choose one action—at work, at home, or in private—that reflects purity of heart and trust in God rather than self-reliance.

Then ask yourself tonight:
Did I walk before God today—or did I walk ahead of Him?

Faithful men are not defined by how much they control, earn, or achieve—but by how consistently they walk with God.