SCRIPTURE: Genesis 15
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
(Read my reflection from 2008)
Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. [Genesis 15:6]
God makes an amazing promise to Abram, and guarantees it by making a covenant.
Abram trusts God, and God is pleased, for this is all that God asks of us – to trust Him!
It is not easy to do, especially when God’s promises seem to defy reason or reality.
No doubt Abram struggled to believe, especially when God took so long to deliver!
But he hangs on, through the struggles and doubts, and stays with God.

“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” [Mark 9:23-24]
This father honestly admits doubt, but he still clings to Jesus for hope.
This honest, clinging faith – far from perfect yet sincere – is all that the Lord desires.
It is enough for the Lord to act on, to help people who need His help.
Abram was not a saint, but God counted his humble, sincere faith as good enough for grace; the same can be said for this humble, sincere father pleading for his son.
Abram did not earn God’s grace, and this father did not earn his son’s healing.
The Lord saw their humble, sincere faith, and He freely blessed them.
If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. [Romans 4:2-4]

The same is true for us; we do not earn or merit God’s blessing, He gives it to any and all who trust Him, who cling to Him with humble yet sincere faith.
When we believe like this, we are like Abram… you might say we are his children!
So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. [Galatians 3:5-7]
Like Abram, like this father asking Jesus for help, we come to God just as we are, needy and dependent, trusting Him for help and blessing.
Even when His promises defy reason or reality, we cling to Him… and one day like Abram we will see God’s promises fulfilled!

Faith is not passive, it is active, it clings and obeys and follows.
True faith acts, it goes where God sends it, does what God asks of it.
You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. The scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. [James 2:22-24]
God wants to help and bless us, we can trust Him for this – but we must demonstrate our faith by stepping up, and doing what we can to show that we trust Him!
What are the specific promises I will choose to believe today, and act upon?

PRAYER:
Lord, because I trust that You are helping me, I will move into the life You are calling me to. If You send me, You will use me!