About Abraham ...
"He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body ... No unbelief made him waver ... but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced ... his faith was "counted to him (imputed KJV) as righteousness" (Romans 4:19-20 ESV).
When you look at some of the verbs there, it emphasizes how solid Abraham's faith had been.
"He did not weaken"
followed by
"no unbelief made him waver,"
then
"he grew strong in faith".
How did he do that? By
"giving glory to God."
He was fully convinced God would keep His promise to Him, despite all the impossible odds against an heir being apparent. What's more is that this heir was not just Isaac his son, but through him and his faith, would come the
"heir of the world" (vs. 13)!
How profound is that!
No challenge is too great for God!
"With God all things are possible" (Matthew 19"26).
When we see our health weaken, when we have obvious limitations in any other capacity, we too can be fully convinced that God keeps His promises.
The promise God made to Abraham was that he'd have a son by Sarah. Both were in their old age. Sarah had been barren even in her younger child-bearing years and now you expect her to bear a child!? Incredulous.
But Abraham believed God. It was
"counted/imputed to him as righteousness" (see vs 22).
The emphasis is on Abraham's belief. That is, versus unbelief. Will we believe God and His promises? Will we grow strong in our faith in Jesus despite all odds, even by giving glory to God when things look bleak otherwise?
Let us believe
"in Him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord. He lived and died for our tresspasses and raised for our justification" ( vs 23-25).
Believe in this salvation that it is by faith not by whatever good deeds and works we may be doing as penance or in hope to achieve getting into God's good books.
That is not how God works.
"By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV).
Furthermore, Abraham lived by faith and then showed it by his works (vs 4). His spirit knew within him how he needed to live and whom he needed and could trust. In so doing he became
"the father of all who believe ..." (vs 11).
May we each be encouraged to have unwavering faith in our loving, heavenly Father God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Cling on to Jesus.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the example of such a man of solid faith as Abraham. May we too grow in grace and in faith by giving you glory and honor; living our lives to please You, serving You with our whole hearts, and that trust in You and Your promises that You will bring us Home to Yourself in Your good timing. May we ever be faithful and cling to Jesus all the days of our lives until Jesus comes. Perhaps today. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
~ ERC April 2026 ~
Based on Romans 4:13-25 ESV.
Sing, My Hope is Built On Nothing Less, along with Sovereign Grace Music.
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