Faith Isn’t Easy
Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. – Genesis 15:6
Yesterday, we discussed the first three risks that are involved in living a life of faith. If you missed yesterday’s devotion, I strongly urge you to go back and read it. But for now, we’re going to talk about three additional risks. Let’s dive in.
The fourth risk of faith involves giving what God says to give. We often pray that God will like our plan, and use our plan for our glory and our blessing. We tell God, “If you will just bless me, I will give you glory. God, if you will just do this, I will tell everyone. I have figured out how I can do that. So, Lord, would you just give me what I want?” God wants you to let go of what you want. Just back off and let Him show you what He wants. Open your hands and give everything over to Him. He’ll take care of the rest.
The fifth risk of faith involves sealing what God says seal. God said to Abraham, “I want your life to be totally different from all the neighbors around you. I want there to be a different sign on your life that identifies you with me. You are set apart. Don't take this ritualistically. Instead, you need to understand it symbolically.” For Abraham, this meant circumcision. For Christians today, this means getting baptized. Either way, having faith in God means sealing with God says seal.
Finally, the sixth risk of faith involves acting on what God says. Faith is taking God at His Word. When He says something very clearly to you, you stand on it, you hold on to it, and you pour your life into it. It is simply taking God at His Word and acting on it. Even though you don't see it, you are choosing to act on it.
Abraham acted on what God said He would do. He just took the next step, relying solely on God's word and His direction, without hesitation, and without fear of tomorrow. It is no wonder that God credited to him the act of taking God's word and believing it. That is righteousness. That is faith.
Yesterday, we discussed the first three risks that are involved in living a life of faith. If you missed yesterday’s devotion, I strongly urge you to go back and read it. But for now, we’re going to talk about three additional risks. Let’s dive in.
The fourth risk of faith involves giving what God says to give. We often pray that God will like our plan, and use our plan for our glory and our blessing. We tell God, “If you will just bless me, I will give you glory. God, if you will just do this, I will tell everyone. I have figured out how I can do that. So, Lord, would you just give me what I want?” God wants you to let go of what you want. Just back off and let Him show you what He wants. Open your hands and give everything over to Him. He’ll take care of the rest.
The fifth risk of faith involves sealing what God says seal. God said to Abraham, “I want your life to be totally different from all the neighbors around you. I want there to be a different sign on your life that identifies you with me. You are set apart. Don't take this ritualistically. Instead, you need to understand it symbolically.” For Abraham, this meant circumcision. For Christians today, this means getting baptized. Either way, having faith in God means sealing with God says seal.
Finally, the sixth risk of faith involves acting on what God says. Faith is taking God at His Word. When He says something very clearly to you, you stand on it, you hold on to it, and you pour your life into it. It is simply taking God at His Word and acting on it. Even though you don't see it, you are choosing to act on it.
Abraham acted on what God said He would do. He just took the next step, relying solely on God's word and His direction, without hesitation, and without fear of tomorrow. It is no wonder that God credited to him the act of taking God's word and believing it. That is righteousness. That is faith.
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