Contrary to hope, Abraham believed in hope; that is, when there was nothing to hope for, Abraham had hope God’s promise would come through. Abraham had absolutely no reason to hope; he was old, his body was weak, his sexuality and sexual drive was as good as gone. Sarah was also weak, have you imagined how the womb of an 89year old woman could hold a baby?
Sadly, what this also means is that if I do not act in faith I may never reveal and experience the righteousness of God which is always available to me. We are unlikely to experience God’s integrity/ without faith. You cannot have victory without faith. There is an opportunity today to uncover the faithfulness/righteousness/wholeness of God in your work, health, academics, business, ministry, family, etc. Take God by His Word, believe and you will see the glory of God manifested.
when we talk about people behind their backs, when we talk people down, when we degrade others with our words, when we bluntly dismiss other people’s feelings, when we engage in a conversation where we seek to build ourselves up or make ourselves look good by making others look bad- this is unwholesome talk.
So faith is for every split second, every second, every minute, every hour, every day, every week, every month, every year, every time.
Faith reveals the righteousness of God and the faith to reveal the righteousness of God comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God. Without the Word, there will be no stimulus to act in faith and without acting in faith, the righteousness/faithfulness/wholeness of God cannot be experienced.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”
I Corinthians 13:3 NKJV
A daily or regular confession of everything love represents and means according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, creates in us a consciousness of who we are, it helps reinforce our identity to us. And because word-based confessions are not mere recitations (God’s Word is Spirit and life), by our confessions we are claiming exactly who we are and rejecting anything contrary to our love nature.
According to Romans 13:8, love is a debt we owe every man. And every man really do mean every man without exception. You know, it is a lot easier to reciprocate love when you feel loved. But sometimes we encounter people who are not so nice and who ordinarily should fit into an ‘unlovable’ group, but God said to love every man.
Jesus identified 4 groups of possible enemies in Matthew 5: 43-48. These are people we would ordinarily not want to love…
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].
When burdened beyond measure, remember that there is a God who can raise the dead. Trust in God, depend on God, rely totally on Him. He is able and willing to deliver you from the worst of circumstances. He will restore, renew and strengthen you. He is the God who delivered us, delivers us and continues to deliver us.
God is love, we are born of God, we are made of love. With the help of the Holy Spirit we can love as God loves.
The God-kind of love is pure, selfless, sacrificial, unconditional, intentional. It is divine, perfect, humble (puts the receiver first) and never hidden. It is available to all. It never fails; it always wins and it endures forever. Love found us, love saved us and love is keeping us.
