24 October 2005 Devotion for Today "Abraham Believed God" James 2:23-26

24 October 2005 Devotion for Today  “Abraham Believed God”  James 2:23-26

 

We are living in a truth crisis.  We have heard just about everything- or we think that we have that we do not stop to listen what other people are trying to say.  Skepticism has caused us to turn inward.  But we find with turning inward a horrible reality- that there is nothing there.   We have been watching the tired old theme on television for so long that we actually believe it: that ministers are out to fleece their flocks, that church people are hypocrites, and that Christians are nothing but phonies.  They are telling us these days that the truth lies within us-that all we need to do is to look within ourselves to find the answers we so desperately seek.  But this is not very helpful, even if it were the truth.  Most people are afraid of the truth.  We are afraid that if we should ever be confront the truth about ourselves that we would not wish to see it.  So seeing the truth within ourselves is not very helpful. 

 

James tells us, “And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness,” And he was called the friend of God.  You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.  Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”  James 2:23-26

 

Abraham believed God.  He trusted in Him when there was nothing tangible except God’s word and promise that Abraham should follow Him out of the Ur of the Chaldees to the land that God would show him.  Abraham believed God when God told him that he should take his son Isaac up to the mount to sacrifice him, knowing that God would provide something else as a burnt offering.  Abraham believed God when there was nothing to base that trust on and still believed God anyway.  Many say that they do not trust God- could it be that they have never fully trusted in Him or placed themselves in a position where God would be there for them?  It is hard to see what God is doing when the mind is so full of one’s own ways and full of doubt at the same time.

 

Abraham was also called a friend of God.  To be a friend means to know someone, to depend upon them, and to trust them.  There are many people that I know but I cannot say I am their friend because I have never built much of a relationship with.  They are people I can strike up a conversation with if we happen to be thrown together.  I would call them a casual acquaintance, and I have lots of those.  If I do not spend time with them, I cannot say that I am their friend.  Abraham was God’s friend because he spent time with God.  He trusted God and depended upon Him. 

 

What about you?  Do you consider yourself a friend of God, or are you just a casual acquaintance?  God wants you to trust Him, believe Him, and to be His friend.  Have a blessed day.

 

Jeff Russell
Devotion for Today
Salem Baptist Church
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@earthlink.net
salembaptistch@earthlink.net
Web address: http://25621.lifewaylink.com