Exercise Your Faith

As children we sang a song entitled "Father Abraham". It was one of those action songs that lasted forever. Similar to the "Twelve Days of Christmas", each verse added another action. The final verse went like this: "Father Abraham had many sons. Many sons had father Abraham. I am one of them and so are you. So let's just praise the Lord. Right arm, left arm, right foot, left foot, head forward, head back, turn around, and sit down." Makes me tired just typing it all, but it was fun back then. We would give it all we had. Just like we should give our praise- with all we have.

The short account of Abraham is found in the fourth chapter of Romans. The 18th verse reads thus: "Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be." We understand that Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. Simply put; what Abraham called faith, God called righteousness.

The following is a loose paraphrase for the remainder of the chapter. Now Abraham had every confidence that God would grant to him all that had been promised. This account has been recorded not for Abraham only but for all who truly believe the promises of God. All who believe in the crucified and resurrected Christ possess and exercise faith. When God looks upon the believer's faith, He equates it with righteousness.

Can't stop there! Romans 5:1,2 "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."

Yes, our righteousness is as filthy rags in the sight of God. That's why we must have faith, walk in faith, exercise our faith, eat, sleep, talk, and breathe faith. Faith is what brings us into right standing with God. Faith is hoping against all hope.

When the world says things are hopeless, when your family says things are hopeless, and even when you feel like things are hopeless; that is the time to believe in HOPE. Many folks think hope is some weak excuse for faith but hope is the building block of faith. "Faith is the substance of things HOPED for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

Just as the children's church song requires the movement of every part of the body, so faith is substantiated by the movement of our physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional being. If you are so emotionally drained you have no feeling, exercise your physical body in faith. Speak the Word of God. If you are physically unable to move in faith, apply your mind. Meditate on the Word of God. If you are mentally exhausted, exercise your spirit man. Pray in the Spirit. Faith is not just a concept it is the source of life in Christ.

You will find strength today as you speak the Word of God, meditate on the Word of God, and as you pray in the Spirit. God bless you all. PT2006