Topic: Implicit Faith
Implicit faith is defined as having a complete faith, with no doubts.
In Genesis 12:1-3, God makes Abram a lot of promises (God will you a land, make you a great nation, will bless you, you will be a blessing, will bless those that bless you and curse them that curse you, and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed). God honored his promises in that Abram eventually became Abraham, the spiritual father to three faiths, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Abram believes God’s promises based on what he personally knows about God’s character and chooses to be obedient and follow God.
The Matthew Henry Commentary (Complete), gives us some insight as to what is required to be faithful and follow God:
Those that will deal with God must deal upon trust; we must quit the things that are not seen, and submit to the sufferings of this present time in hopes of a glory that is yet to be revealed. (Romans 8:18).
Key words: trust, quit things, submit, sufferings, yet to be. We don’t typically like these key words because they require us to do something, to be responsible.
This reminds me that faith has two sides:
1. what God will do and,
2. what we personally have to do.
We know God is faithful, the question is – will we be faithful and follow God.
God offered Abram promises and tested him in whether he would willing follow through. I agree, tests hurt, but they also bring lessons that teach us to:
trust, quit things, submit, suffer, prepare us for God’s hope for unseen promises.
Today’s reading on faith reminded me that while tests of obedience hurt/are uncomfortable, tests are necessary to build our faith and prepare us for God’s promises.
One last thing, in my opinion, Abram demonstrates faith:
in his belief in God,
in his obedience,
in trusting God, and
in following God.
As Matthew Henry writes, “so teaching him to live in continual dependence upon his direction, and with his eye ever towards him”.
This was good and is much needed. Thank you God, we know that you are faithful.
More tomorrow.
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