"....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[c] of
Sarah's womb. No unbelief 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.” But the words “it was counted
to him” were not written for his sake alone, but
for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised
from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up
for our trespasses and raised for our justification." ~ Romans 4:17-25
Abraham's
faith was counted to him as righteousness; my faith will be counted to me as
righteousness. Abraham was an old man when God promised him offspring.
His wife Sarah was barren. God could've chosen to make His promise
earlier, in his youth. But then Abraham (and we) would not know of His power,
His grace, His mercy....and Abraham's (our) faith would not grow strong.
Our faith is counted to us as righteousness when we choose to trust God
in what seems impossible. When life shouts to us that it cannot be done,
this person cannot be saved, this person will never change, then trust that
God, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things
that do not exist, this God with this power, is the One that can save, can
change, can bring new life. He is able to do what He promised.
Abraham considered his own body as good as dead, but God promised him
offspring. Abraham grew strong in his faith, he gave glory to God as he
was fully convinced that God was able to do what He promised.
Help me to have faith in all your promises. I may not see fruit right now, I may be tempted to give in to despair, discouragement, disappointment. Then the Holy Spirit will remind me of your faithfulness to me. The promises you have fulfilled. Help my unbelief and help me to be faithful. Teach me your ways, O LORD. Help me to stand on your truth and your promises. You will do what you say you will do because you are Truth. You have done it before, You will do it again!!! The blind will see! You bring life to what is dead. You bring into existence what does not exist. You blossom and give new life to what appears to be dead. I will glorify you, Lord, all the days of my life, because I trust in you alone, because YOU are good!!!
