Faith is about trust; trusting God. Abraham is known as the father of faith because he yielded to God’s overture, followed God’s voice and established a relationship with God based on trusting faith. Paul testified to Abraham’s kind of faith; a type that produced in him unwavering strength because of a key characteristic: being fully convinced of who God is and His ability to perform His Word.
“Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all…whom he believed — God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did…He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness” (Romans 4:16-22).
RELEVANCE
Sometimes I think I am undeserving of blessings. This feeling dominates my mind when either my failures dominate my thoughts or I allow the false accusations of others to condemn me. So it becomes hard to believe God would bless me or want something good for me. Yet Jesus has forgiven me of all my sins and doesn’t condemn me. God has commanded GRACE! So why doubt? Unbelief will creep in when you accept falsehoods in place of God’s truth.
That’s what unbelief is: believing falsehoods over God’s truth. It’s caused by doubting the truth because the falsehood appears or gives an illusion to being more real than the truth. Those who doubted Jesus was the Messiah could not believe that God could manifest Himself in human flesh and/or deserved to be worshiped.
Some believed but wouldn’t publicly confess Him because “they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:43). Scripture says, “Even the demons believe — and tremble!” (James 2:19). Wow! They just don’t worship Him. The truth is: God simply will not bestow His blessings where there is unbelief. “Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief” (Matthew 13:58).
If you’re not fully convinced or persuaded– but really want to come to trust God– ask Him to demonstrate His faithfulness. He will look for your response.
REFLECT AND RELATE
How does unbelief creep in your life? When it does, seek God for truth. Beware of those with unbelief. Unbelief loves company. Find and keep fellowship with those of strong faith.
REFERENCES
2 Corinthians 6:14