Verse of the Day 6/23

Verse of the Day 6/23

Romans 4:20

New Century Version

20 He never doubted that God would keep his promise, and he never stopped believing. He grew stronger in his faith and gave praise to God.

There are times in our lives when we face trials where we may not understand why things have been allowed to happen, but in these times we are called to hold on to what we believe and whom we believe in.  In doing so, we will grow stronger in our faith.

In today's passage Paul looks back to the example of Abraham.  When you look back over his life, you can see times of doubt and questionable actions on his part, but underneath it all, he kept his faith and became an example for generations to follow.

John Piper writes, "He grew strong in his faith, thus giving glory to God. Faith in God's promises glorifies him as supremely wise and strong and good and trustworthy. So, unless we learn how to live by faith in the promises of God's future grace, we may perform remarkable religious rigors, but not for God's glory.  He is glorified when the power to be holy comes through humble faith in future grace."

May we too keep believing, being strong in our faith and giving glory to God.

The NCV version above states that Abraham "never stopped believing".  Those words reminded me of the Gaither Vocal Band song "Keep Believing", we'll close with a portion of that.

When troubles rise and catch you unaware
The day to day of living seems unfair
And you try again at your dreams and plans
That have ended in defeat
And the fancy thrills that once fulfilled
Now leave you incomplete

And you wonder where you're life's gone wrong
And why you can't find peace
Well your hope's not gone
It's just been too long
Since you've had to believe

Keep believing in what you know is true
Keep believing
You know the Lord will see you through
When troubles rise in your life and you don't know what to do
You'll be fine if you just keep believing

You can take God at his word
He is faithful, kind and true
Not a prayer will go unanswered
In His time He'll see you through

Blessings, 

Mike 

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,

in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

Romans 4:16-25
New King James Version
16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations") in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be." 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness."
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.