Years ago, I had the privilege of participating in Beth Moore’s Bible study called Believing God, which explores the lives of people like Abraham and Moses. These were not perfect men. These were men who doubted themselves, who doubted their own abilities to carry out the tasks and promises that God had appointed to them. Thank goodness God’s plans didn’t rely on their self-confidence! Instead, the One who had made the promises and appointed the tasks was also the One who saw them through to completion.
In Romans 4, the Apostle Paul makes the point that Abraham’s works did not justify him. Instead, Abraham believed God, and God counted that belief to him as righteousness. Abraham believed God. It’s not just that Abraham believed in God. A lot of people in this world believe in God. But Abraham also believed God. That means Abraham trusted that what God had told him was true, and he put that faith into action.
Actually, Abraham didn’t believe God all the time. God had promised Abraham that He would bless anyone who blessed him and curse anyone who cursed him, that He would make a great nation out of Abraham and make his name great. But when Abraham arrived in Egypt, he freaked out and concocted a scheme that basically involved bartering his wife away to Pharaoh in order to save his own butt. So it wasn’t that Abraham perfectly believed God or always believed God. He had moments where fear got in the way of faith. But also, there were these other moments. God said, “Go,” and Abraham trusted God enough to walk away from a safe and comfortable life, into the unknown. God said, “Take your only son, whom you love, and offer him as a burnt offering,” and Abraham trusted God enough to walk up a mountain, stack the wood, bind his son, and take up a knife to slaughter him. Abraham trusted God enough to act in obedience, and God took care of the rest.
The question for each of us is, “Do I believe God?” God has seen that we are hopelessly broken without Him, and He sent His only Son Jesus to live a sinless life and die in our places. God raised Jesus from death, and all who trust Him are also raised to a new life. If we believe God about this, we are blessed because our lawless deeds are forgiven and our sins are covered (Romans 4:7—8). If we can trust God to forgive our iniquities, what else can we trust Him with? Better yet, what can’t we trust Him with? Believer, you have already entrusted God with your eternity. Can you trust Him with your today? Beth Moore’s Believing God study employed a chant that was repeated over and over. Let it be your battle cry as you face this day.
God is who He says He is.
God can do what He says He can do.
I am who God says I am.
I can do all things through Christ.
God’s Word is alive and active in me.
I am believing God!