A Faith we can LIVE by: Part 1

The faith that we are justified by we live by. In Romans 4 we are given a wonderful description of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of all who believe.

FIRST of all, the faith we are justified by and subsequently LIVE by...

• BELIEVES in the God who "gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist" v.18.

Faith is not looking into ourselves, taking stock of what gifts or determination or faith in ourselves we have, and then asking God to increase these things so that we can meet the demands of the day. Faith is rather looking AWAY from ourselves, knowing that IN ourselves we are EMPTY of all that is good and spiritual and strong and loving and wise and TRUSTING in the God who "calls into existence the things that do not exist." God doesn't need a slightly loving heart to work with. God doesn't need a somewhat strong mind to be able to increase its strength. God can CREATE a loving heart, a compassionate heart, a willing spirit, a disciplined will OUT OF NOTHING, just like He does when He saves us.

Our Father can CREATE from nothing in us passions like His. He can give wisdom to us when there is NONE in our minds to draw from.

He simply wants us to BELIEVE in Him to be this kind of God for us. And when He creates in us what was not there, He gets the glory.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God..." Psalm 51:10