Abraham's Faith (Heb. 11:11-12)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 05-31-03

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Abraham’s Faith

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Hebrews 11:11-12

 

            Message of the verse:  “11 It was faith that made Abraham able to become a father, even though he was too old and Sarah herself could not have children. He trusted God to keep his promise. 12  Though Abraham was practically dead, from this one man came as many descendants as there are stars in the sky, as many as the numberless grains of sand on the seashore (GNBE).”

                        I like the words that are repeated in this chapter on different occasions, “by faith.”  The writer is saying to us that these men and women of faith believed what God had told them in spite of circumstances and in spite of any consequences that may have come their way.  In the case of Abraham and Sarah, as seen in these two verses they believed God would give them the promised child that would by fathered by a 99 year old man, with a 90 year old woman who had been barren all of her life.  This took courage and patience on the part of these two faithful people, and although there were times when their faith was not quite what it should have been, they still would believe the things that God had told them concerning this very important child.  They believed that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

 

2/1/2017 8:18 AM

 

            I took me a while to fine a Bible translation that shows what I believe these verses speak of and that is that the faith belonged to Abraham.  The reason I say this is because our Pastor is preaching through this 11^th chapter of Hebrews and explained how the Greek language tells us that the faith was Abraham’s faith.  If you go back to the story in Genesis you see that when the Lord told Abraham that he and Sara were going to have a child that she laughed in her heart and the Lord asked he why she was laughing which she denied.  But sure enough in a year she delivered Isaac just as the Lord told her.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  It is hard to have patience, and to continue to wait upon the Lord for things that He has promised He would do as seen in His Word.  I am sure that it was very hard on both Abraham and Sarah to wait all of those years to have a child, and when they tried to “help God,” in making this process happen, I am also sure that they recreated it for the rest of their lives.  I can see these things in my life to, as it is hard for me to wait upon the Lord to get me through this storm that He I leading us through with our investments.  I would pray that while we are in this storm that the Lord, by His grace, will give us all His wonder peace that passes all understanding.

 

The Word of God was challenging to my heart, and it also has brought conviction concerning the many times that I have tried to help God in different situations in my life.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To continue to trust the Lord to give me the peace that passes all understanding, that will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus, my Lord.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 40:14,15