Daily Reading: Romans 4
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. (Romans 4.17)
Devotional Thought: Abraham is the father “of all who believe” and of those who “walk in the footsteps of faith” (Romans 4.11-12). When Abraham was called by God, he left his father’s home and the familiar surroundings where he lived, that he might set out to follow God to a destination that God said he would later show him. That’s faith, isn’t it?
Can you imagine the conversation?
“See ya, Dad!”
“Where ya going?”
“I don’t know. Wherever God leads.”
“Well, how will you know when you get there?”
“Um… Hey I never thought about that!”
“Don’t you think you should?”
“I dunno… Guess God’ll show me!”
If I had had that conversation with my family, they would have had me committed! If I would have had it with Lana’s dad, he would have done more than that!
But in a way, isn’t Abraham’s situation true of all of us? We really don’t know what lies ahead of us, do we? We just have to keep walking by faith, knowing that God is out there in our future, ready to meet us there.
Paul, in writing to the Romans, made reference to the fact that Abraham and Sarah were “as good as dead” as far as the ability to bear a child was concerned. But God had promised them that they would. Abraham believed God. The Promise was fulfilled in the birth of Isaac when Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90. Wow!
What about you? What promise seems as good as dead to you? Hear the Word of God for you today: God "gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist." Hold on to God's promises to you!
Prayer: Lord, you have given me very great and precious promises, but they seem to take so long to come about. Help me to walk in the footsteps of faith that I might see each and every one fulfilled in Jesus. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: 22.25-31
25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him.
26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD! May your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.
28 For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.
29 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive.
30 Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;
31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.
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