The last few days have been quite challenges in many
ways. And I found my faith in God wavering, as doubts began to settle in. Even
though I knew the truth about God I wondered if He truly was a God who sees and
provides, whether he is indeed good and kind. In short I was beginning to doubt
the wonderful promises of God in His words and anxiety crept in as. Thankfully
my dear wife was having none of such nonsense! She sat me down and gave me a
good talking to. She batted away all my arguments and reminded me of who God is
and what His word tells us.
Providentially it so happened that the passage I was
preaching on this past Sunday was dealing with the nature of Abraham’s faith!
God truly has a sense of humor. I preached a sermon that I totally needed. Let
me quickly share a few thoughts from the passage that reminded rebuked me and
encouraged me at the same time.
Biblical faith
trusts the revealed word of God
Abraham believed in what God had promised and trusted
that the God who promised will indeed fulfill his promises. This meant that
Abraham had to recognize his own inability. To truly trust God is accept that
without him you can do nothing. And yet at the same time, it is to recognize
His power and acknowledge your total dependence on Him. Louisa Stead put perfectly
“Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, and to take him at his word; just to rest upon
his promise, and to know, "Thus saith the Lord."”
Biblical faith
does not waver
God had promised to make Abraham a father of many nations
through a son that God was to give him. When Abraham looked at his age and that
of his wife Sarah he knew they were passed the age of conceiving and yet his
faith did not waver. He had a confident expectation that God will deliver what
he has promised. In fact the scriptures tells us that even when God asked for
Isaac to be offered, Abraham was confident that God would raise him from the
dead.
In the midst of obstacles, this faith still trusts in
the God who saves.
Biblical faith
brings glory to God
The dead do not get credit when they are brought back
to life. Those who are totally unable and desperately in need do not get credit
for been delivered. The deliverer gets the glory. God saves us by His grace
though we are undeserving so that He may receive the glory. He justifies us in
such a way that it is to the praise of His name.
The same is true of our lives after justification. We
are to live in such a way that our lives are a pleasing sacrifice that
glorifies our God.
Biblical faith
results in obedience
We are saved by faith and we live by faith. Biblical
faith results in justification and obedience. Those who truly believe in God
produce works. Those who trust in God will obey Him. A faith that does not
produce fruit is a dead faith. Those who walk with God learn to trust and obey.
But we never can prove the
delights of His love
Until all on the altar we
lay;
For the favor He shows, for
the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust
and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s
no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to
trust and obey.
Powerful
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