This post is part of a Series and I therefore request you to please read the earlier posts before you read this one. (Read: The Kingdom of God Series)
The bible teaches us to follow the faith of those who teach us the Word of God. (Hebrews 13:7) More than anything else, we are instructed to imitate the faith of those who lived before us. That is why in this post I have chosen to talk about Abraham- the Father of Faith.
Abraham lived thousands of years before Christ walked on the Earth. When God called Abraham he served other gods and idols but God took him out of his idolatry and revealed Himself to him. (Joshua 24:2-3) I like the word 'took' that the Holy Spirit uses here. It reveals to us that there was nothing in Abraham that God saw as good or acceptable but He still chose him. This the story of every Christian. There is nothing in our past lives that makes us worthy of all the goodness that God bestows on us. (1 John 4:10) (Romans 5:8) (Romans 5:10) I am reminded here of the words of Jacob, Abraham's grandson- I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies. (Genesis 32:10)
The greatest Revelation that we can get from our father Abraham is that if we want to receive from God all we need is faith. Abraham never tried to get anything from God based on his goodness, his fasting, his attendance of church service, his social service, etc. I heard a story of a woman on her death bed who cried out to God- Lord, heal me for I have been a good person, I have gone to church regularly; Remember how I always paid my tithes and helped the poor... At the end of all of this she passed away. Why did she not receive her healing? The lesson to be learnt here is that you cannot receive from God by telling him what you have done for him. The only way to receive from God is to believe what He has said and done for you. Christianity is not about what you can do for God but it is about what God has done for you in and through Jesus Christ. When a man will go to God and say- Lord, I believe, Surely you bore my sickness and carried my pain. (Isaiah 53:4-5)... God says- This is my man. I will bless him and heal him for he trusts Me and believes in Me.
Paul wrote concerning Abraham- He believed God and it was accounted unto for righteousness. (Romans 5:1-5) What God liked about Abraham was that he trusted God and believed His Words. This is the basic principle that everyone should follow to enter the Kingdom of God and live out their Christian life.
When we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, we must believe and trust God just like Abraham did. (Romans 4:22-25)
When we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, we must believe and trust God just like Abraham did. (Romans 4:22-25)
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