Fully Convinced [Romans 4:18-21]

Rom 4:18 Against hope, with hope he believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be.
Rom 4:19 He considered his own body to be already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb, without weakening in the faith.
Rom 4:20 He did not waver in unbelief at God's promise, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
Rom 4:21 because he was fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

The story of Abraham is one of my favorite stories in the Bible. While there are many lessons and principles that we can gain from his life in Genesis, what I want to focus on today is what these verses in Romans say about Abraham.

When Abraham comes onto the scene in Genesis, right from the get go we see God’s promise of offspring go into effect. “Abraham and Sarah were old and getting on in years. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.” (Genesis 18:11). The only hope that Abraham had for an heir was either a son born from one of his slaves, or the hand of God. As we continue reading the story we see that God restated His covenant with Abraham numerous times. Abraham did not waiver from belief in God’s promise, but he did try to speed up the hand of God (Genesis 16). Abraham knew what God had said and knew that He would keep His word.

Isn’t it hard at times to believe God? Not because God lies, but because His promises sometimes seem “out of reach,” whether by time or status. The popular verse in Numbers 23:19b says, “Does He speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill?” Today I’m asking you to look at your life and the promises that you know are from God. Do you hesitate to believe Him? Why?

Aaron Taylor