Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: "Apostle Tom" <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sat, 05 May 2007 05:10:20 -0500
To: pressingon@hotmail.com
Subject: Morning Manna (May 6); BP: Rom. 4:16-25; RBTTY: Lk. 23:26-56; I Kings 21-22
May 6 “Strong Faith”
“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in
faith, giving glory to God—and being fully persuaded that, what He had
promised, He was able also to perform and, therefore, it was imputed to Him
for righteousness.”
Romans 4:20-22
Doubts stagger, but faith strengthens.
Most folks 75-years-old are not usually the most adventuresome
individuals you’ll ever meet. Oh, they might hop in their R.V. on a
moment’s notice and set sail for parts unknown—but they always have plenty
of money in their wallet or ATM and they always have plans for not being
gone too long.
That’s why the story of Abraham is such an intriguing one. Called out
when he was three-quarters of a century old, this man of faith “went out,
not knowing where He was going” (Heb. 11:8) when God told him to take his
wife, Sarai, their nephew, Lot, and all their worldly possessions and head
off “unto a land that He would show them” (Gen. 12:1).
Talk about “blind faith!”
Or, was it really that at all?
So often that’s what we call such actions—i.e., venturing out without a
roadmap in hand or some type of tangible assurance that things are going to
work out okay. Yes, we call it “blind faith”. . .“a leap in the dark”. .
.or some other clever cliché. . .when, in reality, it’s not that at all.
No, Abraham and his family were demonstrating “blessed faith.” Even
when God told them He was going to bless them with a child (Gen. 15:1-5),
Abraham “believed in the Lord and it was counted (Heb. ‘chashab’—‘to plait,
weave together, consider it so, regard as such, etc.’) to him for
righteousness” (Gen. 15:6). This is basically the same thing Paul was
saying in our Manna—i.e., “it was imputed (Grk. ‘logizomai’—‘to take an
inventory of, conclude, esteem, etc.’) to Him for righteousness.”
Another way to say it is “Because of Abraham’s taking God at His Word,
God deposited His righteousness in Abraham’s spiritual ‘asset column’.”
Thus, instead of trying to draw on his own bankrupt account of good works,
Abraham was able to tap into God’s infinite resources to supply all of his
needs—even a child in old age.
Although it says “Abraham staggered not (Grk. ‘diakrino’—‘to withdraw
from, waver, falter, hesitate, doubt, etc.’) at the promise of God through
unbelief,” he still had a momentary lapse when he “hearkened to Sarai’s
voice” and sired a child by their handmaiden, Hagar (Gen. 16:1-4).
But, it didn’t take him long to realize the “error of their ways”—and
some 14 years later the Promised Child, Isaac, was born (Gen. 21:1-5). And,
some years later he didn’t hesitate to obey God by taking this long-awaited
child up on Mt. Moriah to sacrifice him as God commanded (Gen. 22:1-10).
Thankfully, the Lord stayed his hand (vv.11-14) and even today Abraham is a
beautiful example of what it means to have “strong faith.”
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