red and white flower field during daytime

Over the last month we have walked with Abraham through the trials, the uncertainties and the questions of life. In each season, while full of his own faltering and fumbles, we still found Abraham as a man full of faith. What is faith, again?

The definition we settled upon each week was this: Faith is believing that God is who He says He is and, in light of what He has done, will do what He says He will do, causing us to overflow into worship and obedience.

With that definition, we highlighted the importance of knowing God and knowing the promises He has made to us in His word. Now, we know there are certain promises that were given to certain people in Scripture, but that does not mean those promises have no help for us today. No, in fact, these promises — like those given to Abraham — act as further proof that God is faithful all the time.

Which brings us to some important questions, as we open our Bibles again this week to read, study and consider the word of our God. What are God’s promises? And how do they act as fuel for our faith?

Simply put, God’s promises are those binding commitments that He makes to us, where He will display His glory and bring about our ultimate good. Whether it’s the guarantee that He will provide us with grace sufficient for every circumstance (2 Corinthians 12:9) or that He will supply all that we need when we turn to Him (Philippians 4:19), God binds Himself to us over and over throughout His word.

What’s more, taking these promises up, resting in them, praying them and stepping forward in faith in light of them is exactly what following God looks like in the day to day mess of this world. As I mentioned in the first sermon of the series: when we believe God’s promises (Like “a soft word turns away wrath” Proverbs 15:1), we begin to live differently (Like not yelling at our kids to try to bring about peace in the home). And I believe this is where so many of us miss the mark of walking in faith. We have faith that God did what He says He did — namely, save us through the death of Jesus Christ. But do we have faith that God will do what He says He will do — as the promise of Romans 8:32 tells us: He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

So, let’s take it one more time from the top! Biblical faith does not stop at what God has done (particularly in Christ Jesus), but looks ahead to see what God has not yet done, but said He will do (ie. His promises), and in light of that, faith marches forward in worship and obedience to His word. When we become people who believe God will keep good on His word, then we will become people who walk in covenant obedience.

Brothers and sisters, I pray that God would give us more faith this week in who He is. May He strengthen us to believe He is good on His word and faithful in His decrees. May we read our Bibles with eyes toward the promises and may we have hearts full of hope, rest and joy in the promise-making, promise-keeping God!

A Better Way Forward