"being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." - Romans 4:21
If you've been following along for the past 10 days, then you've heard the term "faith" repeated again and again. We participate in righteousness through faith in Jesus, the faithful one. How does this faith grow strong? In other words, how is this faith enabled?
Abraham gives us a glimpse into the answer to this question. Perhaps you have heard the definition of faith from Hebrews 11, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." If faith is assurance and conviction in Jesus Christ, then Romans 4:21 helps us begin to understand what led Abraham to a strengthening of faith, and to a response of worship (Romans 4:20).
Abraham was fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. It is this conviction that brought the result of growing strong in faith (Moo 286). Abraham wasn't a perfect example of this kind of faith; like I said on Day 10, he laughed when God promised him that he would be the father of many nations, yet in verse 21 Paul is talking about "Abraham's settled attitude that endured all this, not to Abraham's initial reaction" (Morris 213). It was the constancy that brought Abraham through, despite his rocky beginning.
What will hold you in this time of transition? Being persuaded of God's promises. What are some of those promises? Here are just a few (though there are so many more!)...
God promises to cleanse us and forgive us when we confess our sins (1 John 1:9).
He promises to guard our hearts with peace in Jesus Christ when we bring our requests to him instead of turning to worry (Philippians 4:7).
He promises that he will never leave us as orphans and to give us the Holy Spirit, who is with us as our counselor and advocate (John 14:16-18).
Jesus promises to prepare a place for us and return to bring us with him to physically be with him forever (John 14:2-3).
Be assured that these promises stand true. Search the Scriptures and find God's promises to you, to his church. Hope in God's power to do all that he promised he would do. Indeed, many years passed between Abraham's receiving of the promise, and the fulfillment of the promise, but Abraham trusted God's character and power. When you find yourself doubting your purpose, or your calling as a disciple-maker, or the power of the gospel, cling to the promises of God and his power that your faith may strengthen and that you may give all of the glory to Him.
Works Cited:
Moo, Douglas J. Romans. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000. Print.
Morris, Leon. The Epistle to the Romans. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 1988. Print.
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