Daily Worship (Sept 20)

Abraham obeyed God even though he did not know exactly where God was leading him. Hebrews says that “by faith” he went. He left behind what was familiar because he trusted the God who had made the promise. Abraham did not need to know every detail before he obeyed. He needed to know that God was faithful.

We often want God to show us the whole plan before we take the next step. But faith does not mean having all the answers. Faith means trusting God enough to obey what he has already made clear. Abraham also looked forward to a better home, a city built by God. Christians have an even greater reason to live this way. Jesus has secured our future with God. Because Christ has saved us and promised us eternal life, we can obey God even when we cannot see exactly where obedience will lead.

Read Hebrews 11:8-10

Context: Hebrews 11 gives many examples of people who lived by faith. How does Abraham’s story help explain what biblical faith looks like?

Observation: What did Abraham leave behind, and what did he not know when he obeyed God?

Meaning: What does it mean that Abraham was looking forward to a city “whose architect and builder is God”?

Main Idea: According to this passage, what does faith look like when God has not shown us every detail of the future?

Application: Where might God be calling you to obey him even though you do not know exactly what will happen next?

God promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations. There was one obvious problem: Abraham and Sarah were far too old to have a child. Abraham could see that the situation was humanly impossible. Yet Paul says he did not give up on God’s promise. He became strong in faith because he was convinced that God had the power to do what he had promised.

Faith does not mean pretending that our problems are small. Abraham knew exactly how impossible his situation looked. Faith means looking honestly at our circumstances while believing that God is greater than them. We see this most clearly in the gospel. Sin leaves us unable to save ourselves, but God has done for us what we could never do. Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead. The God who raised Jesus can be trusted. When life feels uncertain, we can remember his promises and give him praise.

Read Romans 4:18-21

Context: Romans 4 explains how Abraham was made right with God by faith. How does this larger discussion help you understand these verses?

Observation: What facts about his situation did Abraham have to face?

Meaning: What does it mean that Abraham was “fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised”?

Main Idea: What does this passage teach us about the relationship between faith and the promises of God?

Application: What promise of God do you need to review and remember when your present circumstances make trusting him difficult?

God promised Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him. Galatians explains how that promise reaches us. God’s plan was always bigger than one man or one nation. The blessing promised to Abraham comes to people from every nation through Jesus Christ.

Our greatest problem is not that our lives are difficult or that we lack the things we want. Our greatest problem is sin. We stand under the curse because we have broken God’s law. But Jesus took that curse upon himself at the cross. He died in our place so that the blessing promised to Abraham could come to us by faith.

This also changes what it means to live a blessed life. God does not bless us only so that we can enjoy his gifts. He makes us part of his mission. Having received grace through Christ, we can bring the good news and love of Christ to the people around us.

Read Galatians 3:7-14

Context: Paul is explaining how people become part of God’s family. How does Abraham’s story support Paul’s argument?

Observation: What words or phrases in this passage connect Abraham, faith, blessing, curse, and Christ?

Meaning: What does it mean that Christ “redeemed us from the curse of the law”?

Main Idea: How does Jesus fulfill God’s promise to bless the nations through Abraham?

Application: Since God has blessed you with salvation in Christ, how can his blessing flow through you to someone else this week?