Scripture
When hope seemed hopeless, his faith was such that he became the father of many nations in fulfillment of the promise.
~Romans 4:18, REB
Quote
Sanctification is not my idea of what I want God to do for me; it is God’s idea of what He wants to do for me.
~Oswald Chambers
The LORD said to Abram, “No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.” This promise would have been much easier for Abram to believe had he any off spring, namely sons which he did not. The promise was truly unbelievable. Abraham was close to a hundred years old and Sarah was only a decade behind. Yet Abraham believed that God would fulfill His promise. When hope seemed hopeless, Abraham continued to believe. Every circumstance was telling Abraham, it is not going to happen, it is impossible and even absurd. Abraham was undaunted by all the negative circumstances and when things were absolutely hopeless, Abraham continued to hope.
As I was thinking about this yesterday: I related it to our sanctification. God has made us a promise. In Colossians one Paul said, Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. Now look at what he says in Ephesians 5, Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Are you seeing what I am seeing? Christ is going to make us holy, spotless, without a blemish and free of any accusation. A man came up to me this week to tell me the good news about his mother: he said and I quote–“Bro. Jack mama is cancer free.” There is one thing greater than being cancer free and that is being sin free.
Impossible you say! No more impossible than a 90 year old woman having a baby. You see, Abraham knew that he did not have the power to fulfill God’s promise. He let Sarah talk him into trying and you know how that turned out. No, Abraham’s confidence was in God. God would fulfill the promise in His own time and by His power. It is the same for us; our SANCTIFICATION is going to carried out by the power of God. You and I are not going to make ourselves holy—God will make us holy by grace and one day we will be sin-free. Hallelujah!
Long day for me yesterday: I stayed on the go until 11:00 pm and retired knowing that I have a lot to do today. I know you are anxious to hear about the golf tournament. My team finished 10 under which we thought was good but some reported scores of 20 under. That is a bird on every hole except the two where you got the eagles. I only have two things to say: my team did not cheat, Scottie wouldn’t let me. He went by every rule in the book. I would love to see the video of the team that shot 20 under. I would have to see it to believe it.
Danville Hawks won their third game last night and in convincing fashion. We scored 45 points on seven TD’s. This team has some heart. I think they will win some more.
Don’t forget to pray for those who are battling cancer. Also pray for your President and your Pastor.