Romans 4:18-22 (NIV)
18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so
became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So
shall your offspring be.” 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced
the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years
old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver
through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his
faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had
power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to
him as righteousness.”
What causes your faith to waver? What circumstances are
beyond your control? Do you have disappointments in life or health or financial
issues that seem insurmountable? God told Abraham that he would be the father
of many nations, yet he and his wife were childless and Sarai was beyond the
child-bearing years. Paul writes that Abraham did not waver in his belief
regarding the promise of God and that he was fully persuaded that God would
fulfill His promise. His faith credited him with righteousness. If God told me
at hundred years old that I was going to have a child, I think I would fail the
test of unwavering faith! I would think that perhaps He was talking about
adoption, or I would be like Sarai and laugh. One thing is for certain, I would
not give my handmaiden to my husband in order to have a child!! And besides,
the last time I looked, I didn’t have any handmaidens.
Although those things sound preposterous to me, there are
other ways that I have disregarded God’s promises or tried to take things into
my own hands to make them happen. Take, for example, my desire for my son to
marry a godly woman. The Lord has made it clear in His Word that He will
protect and watch out for my children, but that has not stopped me from trying
to pick out his wife! Paul, by using Abraham’s faith as an example to us, shows
us that God will credit us with righteousness when we believe in Jesus Christ,
and He will fulfill His promises to us when we have the faith to believe.
What promises do you doubt that the Lord will fulfill? Are
you willing to believe and put your hope in His fulfillment of them?
Thought for today:
Can I push past doubt and trust in my
faith?
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