| Romans 4:9-12 "Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness. Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised." God is completely fair. The gospel was not only given to the Jews, but also given to the gentiles who believed God. Abraham was actually a gentile who was called by God - The ancestor of the Jews was a Chaldean from where is known today as Iraq! Because of his obedience, he became a channel of blessing in the hand of God. Not only were his offspring blessed, all people and all nations are blessed because of him. How did he become a channel of blessing? The Jews thought it all began with the ceremony of circumcision, but that was not it. The Jewish lineage actually began at Ur in Chaldea. That's where God chose Abraham and asked him to leave his home town, his own race and his family to go to somewhere completely unknown, which was not an easy thing to do. If Sarah was packing beside Abraham, she would ask: "Where are we going?" Abraham would respond: "I don't know." "How long will we be gone for?" "Not sure." "Alright, why are we leaving?" "I have no idea." Abraham, nevertheless, held on to the promises of God and moved forward by his simple faith. When he was 75 years old, God promised to give him a son, but he didn't have the son till he was 100 years old. It's not that the way of God was not well planned, but God has His own timing and ways for His work. Abraham was a man of simple faith; he chose the way of God, and God called him a righteous man. It wasn't because he was outstanding in any way, but he was just glad to be a vessel of God. Abraham became a friend of God not just because he was circumcised, because circumcision was merely an outward sign. Abraham could claim to be righteous because of his faith and obedience. Are you willing to become a blessing for all people and all nations the same way Abraham did? Start serving your God in the smallest things! 
Pray with Pastor Tong Liu Lord, please give me an obedient heart so that we would believe your word in our daily life. Let us be obedient to your guidance so that so that we will become a blessing to all people and all nations just like Abraham. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen! |
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