Romans 4:1-12 – Obedience to any law of God without faith is of no value. The power is in the faith, not the deed. Abraham was an example of this. He sought God and believed in him. He did not try to reason with Him or question Him, he simply believed Him.
\nFaith is about us worshiping God and acknowledging Him as almighty and we as subservient. The mindset of obedience says I’m am sufficient and God must accept me if I obey. The mindset of faith says that I am inadequate, but God has promised therefore I am accepted.
\nThe reward of obedience is at the end of a long, difficult road that we cannot travel, the gift of faith is received at the start of the journey and makes straight the path ahead.
\nRomans 4:18-21 – The familiar story of Abraham believing God when told he would have many offspring at 100 years old. “Fully convinced that God was able to do what he promised” is what it says in verse 21.
\nWhat about us? Aren’t we “as good as dead”, broken by sin and defeated? Yet God primisses us new life, now and forever. Do we believe Him? Do we live like we do?
\nI for one am tired of living as if I am still shackled. I am not. Imagine a prisoner set free, yet he remains in his cell, staring at the open door, not feeling that he’s ready to leave. Crazy? Yet that’s how I too often live.
\nGod promised me freedom, in fact it is already mine. Why am I content to stay in my cell? I refuse to act as if I am still tied down by sin.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"