The Equation of Faith

Saturday, January 29th, 2011

Today's Passage: Genesis 12 (E-100 Reading)
Memory Verse(s): Gen. 12: 1-2

If there were a mathematical equation for FAITH, it would have to be: F=bd/c.  In other words, FAITH equals BELIEF + DESTINY over CHALLENGE.  This is what was required for Abram to follow  the call of God and become the father of every population in Td nation.  Everyone wants to be relevant, you see.  We all strive to at least accomplish something that others can look at and say, "That life mattered.". And so Abram found himself faced with lacking the one thing that would allow him to become relevant.

Abram and his wife, Sarai, could not have any children.  Even if you had all the riches in the world but had no children, there was no chance of obtaining relevance.  Here is where Abram met God-- at the point where he was about to accept failure.  Therefore, when God offered him  
the solution to his dilemma ("Go out from everything you know to a place that I will show you"), he really had nothing to lose.  Deep inside, he realized that there must be something about this God Who dealt in impossibilities, Who was not moved by the obvious fact that he didn't have a single child, so how could he become a great nation?  So Abram reached out and put his faith in something he could not see.  

It occurred to me to ask this question: Why didn't God show Himself strong to them where they were?  Right there in Haran would have been the perfect place for Abram to turn around and say "Aha!" to all the ones who didn't think anything good could come out of his life.  Then God answered the question with this profound statement: If you remain where lack was discovered, it will always be identified as the place of your lack.  Abram would never have been able to live down the number of years he COULDN'T have children.

Furthermore, God will always require something from you as a seed offering to cause your answer to grow... Spiritual fertilizer, if you will.  God always requires us to step out from something known to the unknown.  If He doesn't push us, we'll stay right where we are.  On the way to this new place of destiny, Abram encountered many obstacles, including almost losing tbd woman he planned on having children with.  But God remained faithful above all else.  If we were to ask Abram whether he considered all this before stepping out, he'd probably say no, he just trusted and acted.  But then, that's what faith is, isn't it?  

Prayer: Father, like Abram I find myself looking at a mountain of challenges.  Then I hear Your sweet, still voice calling me to places where all will be made new.  I will not be afraid, for You are there.  And the promise of Your presence is greater than any earthly reward.  I will go, and I will obey.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.