Devotional - July 18, 2004

If there's one thing that can revitalize a person's faith, it's what Paul said in this verse. Think about it. Do you really believe God has the power to do what he said he would do?

Most people would likely answer "Yes, I do" to this question. But do they really believe it or just wish they did? I mean, how can a person know if their faith is real or make-believe?

Abraham believed God had the power to do what he said and Scripture says his belief was credited to him for righteousness. (Vs. 4:22) That means, he acted on what he believed. When God told him to leave his home and go off to who knows where, Abraham did it. He didn't question God and he didn't doubt what he heard. He just picked up, left his home and went off in the direction God led him and lived in a tent while he listened to God to give him a course correction.

You may be saying to yourself, "Yeah, but that was Abraham. God gave him some really cool promises, but God hasn't made any promises to me like He did to Abraham." If that's what you believe, you're wrong! We can pick up the word of God, open it to any page and more than likely find a really cool promise there that applies to our life. The question however, is will we act on it or keep going the way we're going without giving it a second thought?

Abraham never neglected the promises of God. Because of that his name is synonymous with faith, a word that means to act on the revealed word of God. God was pleased with Abraham and now you know why Scripture says "Anyone, then who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." James 4:17

1 Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( 1 Ch. 26:12-27:34 Rm. 4:14-5:2 Ps. 14:1-7 Pr. 19:17 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society