Strength for Today

We need a faith that looks up -- looks up to God, that is. "My faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine." That's what we sing. That's how we should live. We are the seed of Abraham. God told him that he would have a son, but many years had come and gone and there was no child. Delayed promises can either build our faith or destroy our faith. One night God invited Abram outside and said to him, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them...So shall your descendants be" (Gen. 15:5). Abram's wonderful response would change the history of the world. "And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness" (Gen. 15:6).He looked up, saw the innumerable stars, and chose to believe God. He would have a son and his descendants would be innumerable. The apostle Paul pinpoints this watershed moment in Abraham's life. "For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness'" (Rom. 4:3). This is the heart of the gospel. When we believe our faith is credited for righteousness (Rom. 4:5). "So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham" (Gal. 3:9). Those who are of the seed of Abraham are believers, not doubters. Long ago I chose to believe God and live the life of faith. Faith may ask questions, even as Abram did on occasion (Gen. 15:2), but it does not linger long there. It moves on to bold faith. It demonstrates itself in a life marked by trust and obedience. It all starts with a faith that looks up to God. "O let me from this day be wholly Thine!"