Promise Realized by Faith

Confident Hope Faith and Salvation Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5)    The Faith of Abraham   Romans 4:13-15 The Message 13-15 That famous promise God gave Abraham—that he and his children would possess the earth—was not given because of something Abraham did or would do. It was based on God’s decision to put everything together for him, which Abraham then entered when he believed. If those who get what God gives them only get it by doing everything they are told to do and filling out all the right forms properly signed, that eliminates personal trust completely and turns the promise into an ironclad contract! That’s not a holy promise; that’s a business deal. A contract drawn up by a hard-nosed lawyer and with plenty of fine print only makes sure that you will never be able to collect. But if there is no contract in the first place, simply a promise—and God’s promise at that—you can’t break it.   For Reflection The key to entering the presence of God is not good works nor belief.  The key to enter the will of God is faith, complete, indefensible, irrational trust in the unseen, omnipotent, ever-present God. Paradox is God's greatest gift. The only way to accept and enjoy God's bestowal is to trust. To be in communion with God is to act blindly on God's holy promise. As Abraham realized, self-sacrifice on behalf of the truth of our existence transported him from reliance on the worldly to a confederate of God animated by God's promise and divine love. Pray Pray and find the "you" God intends you to be by losing yourself in the hollow of God's hands. Forward to a friend