Romans 4: 13-25
The above scripture reminds us of the critical role that faith plays in our Christian walk with God. Faith, which is an act of worship, is also the fuel to our relationship with God. It drives our Christianity because the Bible says that without faith, we can not please God (see Hebrews 11:6).
It is faith that grants us access to the promises of God, which are yes and amen through Christ Jesus (see James 1:8). Having faith in God not only gives us access to the promises of God, but it also is credited to us as righteousness; which is the right standing with God.
The promises of God are not for everyone but for those that belong to Him. There is a general or common promise given to everyone who believes, and that is the logos (The Word of God), whereas there are also personal promises which are revealed to you specifically, which we call Rhema (a revelation from the logos). The one mistake most people tend to make is to attribute promises to themselves that are not theirs. However, one also needs to remember that every personal promise falls under the umbrella of the general one.
Abraham is called the father of faith because he was able to believe in the promise(s) of God against all hope. Many Christians today want things to happen instantly, and when it doesn’t, they get discouraged, while forgetting that one of the biggest tests of faith is time; as time is meant to test, prove and refine your faith (see Psalms 66:10-12). Being overzealous and overconfident without having anything to substantiate and support your faith in times of trial and delay, is vain and could be fatal. The word of God is the substance that holds your faith (see Hebrews 11:1 and Romans 10:17).
One also needs to remember that the reality of what you see is not necessarily the truth of what it’s supposed to be and that is where most of us fail because when what we see doesn’t align itself with what we believe, we stop believing and we get discouraged.
The Word of God is the substance that holds our faith. Having faith doesn’t mean denying reality, but it’s choosing to override the reality we see with the truth we know, which is the Word of God. Your faith comes and grows by the Word of God, so attach yourself to it because knowing and keeping it in your heart is what will bring you to know and trust in God’s nature.
Whenever you are faced with a reality that contradicts your belief, speak the Word of God just as Ezekiel did when placed in the valley of dry bones. The reality or the evidence of what he saw could have easily discouraged him, but because he knew the truth of God’s Word and he had confidence in the nature of the one who called him, he spoke the Word of God, and the dry bones came back to life. Learn to cherish the Word of God, write it down so that you may not forget it and become one with it that you may have a solid foundation for your faith (see Joshua 1:8).
Reflective Questions
- Do you know the promises of God for your life?
- If you know them, then are you waiting on them?
- What makes it difficult to keep trusting God?
- How is the evidence and common sense behaving to the promises of God?
