Wednesday 05 February 2014

Background

Abram was called by God in his old age to leave his homeland andtravel to a new land (Genesis 12:1-9). The promise had been that allfamilies on earth would be blessed through this journey, that theywould "inherit the world". This was a very positive, confidentpromise. It was a promise to bless and expand who Abram was.However, the call was not just a blessing for Abram, but (throughAbram) a blessing to countless others. Abram's adventure with Godtransformed who he was, his identity changed, and to show a sign ofthis God re-named him Abraham.

Paul made the point that the fulfilment of this promise came toAbraham, not because he kept the law, but because he trusted inGod. If it had been because Abraham had kept the law it would havebeen by his own efforts, and would have excluded all Gentiles (nonJews) who were not under the law. Excluding Gentiles would havemade the scope of God's promise to Abraham much smaller.

The fulfilment of the promise depended on faith, and rested ongrace. Grace is the healing love of God - God's beauty. Abrahambelieved in God, even though he was so old he was as good as dead!He gave the glory, the honour and the credit to God.

Therefore, his faith was reckoned to him as righteousness. Itwas due to his faith, that God restored Abraham's right and fittingcharacter. This was not just for Abraham's benefit, but also thatwe might know the way of faith, and be blessed by Abraham's faith.Abraham taught us the meaning of faith so that we can learn to havefaith in the life, death and resurrection of Christ, and throughour faith bring blessing to all the nations on the earth.

To Ponder

• What difference does it make to you to have faith not only inthe life of Jesus, but in the life, death and resurrection ofJesus?

• What difference will it make to your actions in the next 24hours to know that having faith is not just to be a blessing to youand your loved ones, but a blessing to all people?

• Think of a recent example of when you have been a blessing toothers and explain in what way you gave the glory to God ordidn't.