SOAP 05/23/2012; Romans 4:17b

Today's reading: 2 Chronicles 6,7; Psalms 135; Romans 4
     
S)"¹⁷ ... God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. "
     

Romans 4:17b (NASB)

     

O) I don't often highlight only a portion of a verse, but the first half of this one is still then end of a larger statement about Abraham's faith. The thing that jumped out at me, though, was this snippet about the nature of who God is. Abraham's faith was credited as righteousness, just as ours is also. But, while our faith is based on Jesus being the only Son of God, crucified in innocence as the sacrifice for all sin, raised from the dead by His own triumph over sin and death - this is the simplicity of Abraham's faith - he simply knew that God could do anything, including giving life to the dead and calling things into being which did not exist. That last bit literally translates this way, "calls the things which do not exist as existing." In other words, when God tells us something and we respond in the likeness of, "But that's not... but it can't... but there is no..." God is telling us, "Yes." because He is God and He is not a liar and He is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, all-powerful, and eternal.
     
A) This is who God is and I will do well to remember. Standing on this verse, my faith will increase. When I'm facing something that looks, even literally and physically impossible, I need to remember that He is bigger. When there seems to be no way, no solution, or simply nothing, I need to remember that if He says there is, then there is. It's as simple as choosing faith beyond my own perception, reason, or knowledge.

     

P) Father, I would almost call You incredible, but You are, in fact, quite the opposite. You are very, very credible. You are flawlessly credible. Holy Spirit, keep this verse in my mind when I am facing the impossible. Remind me, when I cannot see the way, that the way still exists according to the word of the LORD. I will choose this day to believe in the nonexistent, according to Your word, LORD. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.