Romans 4:17: As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations” in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.
The God “who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were” was clearly the object of the patriarch’s faith. It is fundamental that we understand that the object of one’s faith is most important. One’s faith, outstanding as it may be, will never benefit its owner if it has the wrong object. 1
If our view of God is as exalted as Abraham’s, if we see God as so vast that he creates and gives life to the dead, if you and I really believe this, it will make an equally immense difference in our faith and approach to life. Two questions are relevant here: 1) Is God the object of our faith? 2) How do we perceive the object of our faith? We have seen Abraham’s perception of the object of his faith. Now we come to his perception of the obstacles to his faith. 2
Application
- Why is it so important for God to actually be the “object of your faith?”
- Why is putting faith, into your faith, a very dangerous practice?
Prayer
Lord, thank you for being my Resurrection and Life!
1. Hughes, R. K. (1991). Romans: righteousness from heaven. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
2. Hughes, R. K. (1991). Romans: righteousness from heaven. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
