Romans and Genesis...

Without weakening his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead--since he was about a hundred years old--and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

That passage is found in the fourth chapter of Romans. This was Monday's reading for the Journey this week. These verses, 19-21, just screamed at me. We sang a song when I was a kid, called 'Father Abraham'. That's the guy these verses are talking about.
Abram. Abraham.

The father of many nations. The man that three different world religions trace their roots to. Abraham, called a friend of God.

In the Bible study I teach on Mondays, we're going through the book of Genesis. This past Monday we studied through chapters 12-16...was it an accident that the 'morning quiet time' of the day was chapter four of Romans?!--I think not!

Was it by chance that Paul wrote those words in Romans so very long ago as to encourage me at this moment in time, and also to encourage those in the assisted living place where this study of Genesis is taking place? I think not! And, what an encouragement those words were!

Without weakening his faith. His faith was strengthened...and he gave glory to God...being fully persuaded of God's power! You see, Abram knew God in such a way that he packed up everything he had and followed him where ever He told Abram to go!

Abram even won in battle because God 'delivered his enemies into his hands!' Abram (his name at this point in time!) was approached by the King of Salem, Melchizedek...this man was a priest of God Most High...and he blessed Abram...(the only person at this point in time that was spiritually superior to Abram) and Abram gave Melchizedek one tenth of everything he possessed!

A tenth of everything. Let that roll around for a moment. We are told that Abram had amassed great wealth. This is before 'priestly tribes' existed...it was before a 'mosaic law for tithing' was in place. Abram, because of the place God had in his heart, was prompted to give to Melchizedek, a priest of God Most High, one tenth of everything. .

This fact says to me that 'giving' is a heart issue. It has everything to do with the place God has in our hearts--the level at which we do not waver about God's promises, but strengthen our faith, give glory to God, staying fully persuaded about God's power that we fully rely on the fact that HE WILL make good on His promises!

Abraham, without weakening his faith, faced the facts around him: he was 100 years old. His wife, about 90 years old, had an apparent 'dead womb'...yet because God had promised them their own son, Abraham believed God!

In spite of our circumstances, we can do the same. What has God promised us? That we can be reconciled to Him through the blood of His Son...eternity with Him! What ever we face here, we are just 'going through' it!

So, my friend, without weakening your faith, face the circumstances that surround you...and, KNOW that God is going to make good on His promises to YOU!--Claim them, live victoriously in Jesus! Actually, this process of assessing should strengthen your faith, and allow you to give glory to God for how far you've come in life, and, at the same time, persuade you of God's power!--Look around, go ahead!--It's not an accident you are here, now...stop wavering through unbelief about the promises of God...start living the victorious life that God has promised you, because He's called you out, summoned you, as it talks about in Romans 8...Live like it!

Be encouraged in your faith. Be strengthened in your faith. Give glory to God Most High. (and, give more than that, while you're at it!--a lesson on giving will be for another day) Take God at His Word!

Take a listen to this:

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of son-ship. And, by him we cry, Abba, (which means 'Daddy'!!!), Father.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
If God is for us, who can be against us?
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
...we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
...neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen and Amen!