⁶ Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord credited his FAITH to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6, NIV).

Early in the book of Genesis, we learn that Abraham was faithful to God. In fact, he was so faithful to God that God blessed him as the father of God’s chosen people. And, that through the lineage of Abraham would one day come the Son of God, Jesus.

But we know that Abraham wasn’t perfect. He slept with his wife’s servant in order to have a child; this greatly displeased God. But in spite of his few shortcomings, he took God at His word and eventually followed through with the things that God told him to do. So, how big of a deal do you think the faith of Abraham was in the Bible?

Let’s take a look…

³ What does Scripture say? “Abraham BELIEVED God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3).

⁶ So also Abraham “BELIEVED God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Galatians 3:6).

⁸ “By FAITH Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going (Hebrews 11:8).

¹⁷ By FAITH Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, ¹⁸ even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” ¹⁹ Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death (Hebrews 11:17-19).

Roughly 2,000 AFTER Abraham, Paul was still using the FAITH of Abraham as an example of what it is like to honor God and give Him your all. And here we are, 4,000 years AFTER Abraham, still looking to him as an example of FAITH.

If you’ve ever read the account of Abraham’s life in the book of Genesis, what theme do you see with regard to his FAITH IN GOD? Give up? OK… here goes… every time the FAITH of Abraham was mentioned, his FAITH was coupled with ACTION.

Did you know that only 20% of Christ-followers today actually practice, put into action, a Biblical worldview? That means 80% of professing Christians live WITHOUT applying their FAITH to the ACTIONS of their lives.

Imagine what would happen if ALL CHRIST FOLLOWERS put their own agendas on hold and started WALKING OUT THEIR FAITH IN GOD, God’s way. Though we strive to walk in God’s will, GOD IS FAITHFUL to those who are Faithful to Him, even when we stumble! What a blessing He is that we can count on Him, no matter what! Just like Abraham did.

Further into Genesis, Joseph is also a very pure example of FAITH in God – his actions kept God’s people alive. In Exodus, I wonder how MOSES fared in HIS WALK of FAITH – especially across the Red Sea and through the desert wanderings? Read and study it for yourself! And have faith (with actions!).

David McCall

Executive Pastor