Friday, January 4, 2013

Week 1 - Day 4


Genesis 12-15; Psalm 4

*Click here to read these passages.

Chapter 12 introduces a very important man in the Bible, Abram, who will become Abraham.  Abraham was far from perfect, but he is known as a man of great faith.  God told him to leave his country and his people and go to the land that God was going to show him.  He didn’t even know where he was going or what was going to happen, but he listened to God and did what God said. 

Two different times God tells Abram how numerous his offspring will be (chapter 13 – like the dust of the earth; chapter 15 – like the stars in the sky).  Abram knew that his wife Sarai was barren, but yet he believed God’s promise.  So much that it says God credited it to him as righteousness. 

Hebrews 11:1 says “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”  I’ve heard a couple illustrations about faith that have helped me.  One is to think of putting together a puzzle with all the pieces but no picture on the box to look at.  It is hard to know what piece goes where.  God holds the big picture and gives us glimpses of what we need to put each piece at a time.  Along the same lines, if you think about what a tapestry looks likes on the back.  It appears to be just a mess of strings and knots, but when you turn it over, it is a beautiful design.  Faith is believing that God has the big picture, the beautiful design, and trusting Him, obeying, and going where He leads. 

And no matter where He leads, I can say in the words of David’s faith in Psalm 4, “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

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