Genesis__15

Scripture

Genesis‬ ‭15:6‬ ‭

“And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.”

 

Observation-What does it say?

 

God spoke to Abram in a vision. God reassures Abram that He will protect him, and He will reward Abram and give him many blessings. But Abram questions God. Abram doesn’t see the point to all these blessings if he doesn’t even have a son to share them with and carry on his legacy. God then takes Abram outside, shows him the stars in the sky, and promises Abram his descendants will be as many as the stars that he sees in the sky. Abram decides to trust God at His word, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.

 

Understanding-What does it mean?

 

It is by our faith-(in Jesus), not by our works, that we are saved.

 

“If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way.”-Romans‬ ‭4:2

 

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” -Ephesians‬ ‭2:8-9‬ ‭

 

“We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.”-Romans‬ ‭3:22‬ ‭

 

There are many other verses you can choose from in the Bible that show us that it is by our faith, and not by our works that we are saved. It is the mainstay of our Christian faith, and what separates Christianity from other religions. While other religions focus on what you do that get you in Heaven, Christianity is about what has been done (Jesus dying for our sins, and rising again, defeating death). Putting our faith in Jesus, believing he is the Son of God, knowing he died for our sins, and that he rose again gives us a hope and a certainty that we too will be with Him for eternity in Heaven.

 

Life Application

 

Trust in God and His Word even if the odds are stacked against me.

 

Abraham did have some reasons to question and doubt God. After all, God was promising him descendants that would outnumber the stars in the sky and the sands along the seashore. One problem though...Abraham and his wife Sarah were already well past their years of childbearing. But God makes the impossible possible. Nothing is too hard for God. The God who spoke the universe into existence, can do anything for those who believe and trust in Him. So I choose to trust in God. No matter how bleak or grim a situation I am in, I trust that my God is all powerful, all knowing, merciful, compassionate, just, loving, and filled with grace. I trust that God’s way is better than mine, and I choose to follow Him. May I too be considered righteous because of my faith in Jesus.

 

-Moses Gaddi

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