Tag: God’s work in Abraham

God’s work in Abraham.

Abraham was truly a remarkable man. Not a perfect man, but one that made a difference in his world and ours.

His story is definitely worth the read.

He had some good times and bad times. Frustrating moments and glorious moments. Days when he knew God was near, and days he wasn’t so sure.

But, overall, his life is marked by faith.

In the face of utter failure and impossible odds, he believed God.

When everything around him validated his fear, his faith in God gave him the strength to take the next step in obedience to God, leaving fear far behind.

“…as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations” – in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 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.” (Romans 4:17-21 ESV)

Abraham didn’t deny his, or his wife’s, age. He considered all the reasons why God’s promises shouldn’t work, why he shouldn’t trust God. But not one of them convinced him otherwise.

God had proved Himself to Abraham on more than one occasion. So Abraham knew what to do when fear came knocking and failure seemed inevitable.

He “grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced…” To Abraham, God knew what He was doing. So Abraham kept praising God, kept glorifying God, and growing stronger in faith.

And that same spirit of faith is available to you and I.

Today.

God’s the same, faith is the same, and with God’s help, we can experience the God of Abraham along with the faith of Abraham.

God’s work in Abraham consisted of God giving the promise, and Abraham, against all odds, letting faith and patience sustain him until he actually saw the promise fulfilled.

God giving, Abraham letting.

“And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise.” (Hebrews 6:11-15 ESV)

And that is God’s plan for you and I. It’s how He will work in our lives. Whether the promise is “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved”, or “I am the Lord Who heals you”, the work of God is the same. He speaks, we “let”. We believe.

We keep on believing.

And He keeps His word.

The faith of Abraham; notice how it’s connected to the work God does in us.

“…for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith…And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” (Galatians 3:26,29 ESV)

Sons of God, through faith. Abraham’s offspring, through faith.

Let’s allow God the freedom to work in us as He did in Abraham.

With faith and patience.