About Faith
written at Monday, September 13, 2010
Abraham's story in Genesis accounts the promise that God gave Him, and that its fulfilment is in the promised Messiah. But I also think that there are more lessons about faith to be drawn from this story too!
In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness” (Rom 4:18-22 ESV).
Paul was describing the situation that Abraham was facing. God had promised Abraham that he was to be the father of many nations, his children and his inheritance would outnumber the stars in the sky. So this promise, if we are looking at the time line from Genesis, would tell us that it would have been 25 years since the promise had been given, and still, he did not have any children. Paul further added that Abraham's body was as good as dead and that Sarah was barren and could not have children.
So God gave Abraham His promise, it seems that Abraham and Sarah could not fulfil their part of God's promised as a result of their physical limitations, his faith would have been crushed to smithereens. It would have for me. But Paul went on to mention that no distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised. Wow. To cap it off, "He grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God."
How can this be? As I am writing this post, I am still questioning. Maybe I can apply and relate this back to my life. I have to understand and perceive.
Here's how I can look at it: I could look at the limitations, the weaknesses, and "barrenness" in my life. I think these are in fact, true realities. I can devise ways to feel better about myself, maybe listen to some John Mayer "Heart of Life" and hope to draw some deeper meaning because the "Heart of life is good"? Or, like Abraham, and probably the more challenging, give glory to God knowing that although I am still so weak, He has promised me that I would be fruitful, 30, 60, 100 times more fruitful even?
"It was in this process of rehearsing God’s promises to me, of giving Him glory for His wonderful mercy, grace, and kindness, that my heart was changed and I walked out into faith again." - Elyse Fitzpatrick
Oh how very true, time to start rehearsing.
About Faith
written at Monday, September 13, 2010
Abraham's story in Genesis accounts the promise that God gave Him, and that its fulfilment is in the promised Messiah. But I also think that there are more lessons about faith to be drawn from this story too!
In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness” (Rom 4:18-22 ESV).
Paul was describing the situation that Abraham was facing. God had promised Abraham that he was to be the father of many nations, his children and his inheritance would outnumber the stars in the sky. So this promise, if we are looking at the time line from Genesis, would tell us that it would have been 25 years since the promise had been given, and still, he did not have any children. Paul further added that Abraham's body was as good as dead and that Sarah was barren and could not have children.
So God gave Abraham His promise, it seems that Abraham and Sarah could not fulfil their part of God's promised as a result of their physical limitations, his faith would have been crushed to smithereens. It would have for me. But Paul went on to mention that no distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised. Wow. To cap it off, "He grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God."
How can this be? As I am writing this post, I am still questioning. Maybe I can apply and relate this back to my life. I have to understand and perceive.
Here's how I can look at it: I could look at the limitations, the weaknesses, and "barrenness" in my life. I think these are in fact, true realities. I can devise ways to feel better about myself, maybe listen to some John Mayer "Heart of Life" and hope to draw some deeper meaning because the "Heart of life is good"? Or, like Abraham, and probably the more challenging, give glory to God knowing that although I am still so weak, He has promised me that I would be fruitful, 30, 60, 100 times more fruitful even?
"It was in this process of rehearsing God’s promises to me, of giving Him glory for His wonderful mercy, grace, and kindness, that my heart was changed and I walked out into faith again." - Elyse Fitzpatrick
Oh how very true, time to start rehearsing.
Profile
Knowing
What matters supremely, therefore, is not
in the last analysis, the fact that I know God,
but the larger fact which underlies it --
the fact that He knows me.
J. I. Packer
