We now move into reading an amazing and well-known story of Abraham and Sarah. Paul uses the story of Abraham and Sarah to demonstrate that just as God fulfilled His promise to miraculously bring children to them and actually ‘many nations’ He has also again created out of nothing the faith found in Gentile believers.
Of course this story isn’t perfect. Abraham made mistakes. But he kept bouncing back and got back on track with his faith in God’s promise. That is why God credited his faith as righteousness. Abraham held onto the conviction in God’s promise and acted on that promise. This is the faith Paul is speaking of. This is our faith.
“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in 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. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” (Romans 4 v 18-25)
At a prayer gathering this week a Pastor described his church as in a time of enduring. They are going through difficult times. This position is a place of faith. Great faith is the faith that endures.
To please God we need to believe He exists even when it looks like He doesn’t. To believe He isn’t a million miles away even when it feels like He is. To believe He is with you even when there is little to show for it.
The pressures of your life can be the evidence of God’s work in your life.
The presence of God is more important than the answers of God.
Missions Paul 