Who we REALLY are

Really, I'm trying to update this blog more frequently. I promise. Tomorrow is a new day, I suppose. Bear with me.

Today, my Bible study had me in Romans 4 and a couple things struck me while I read it. Particularly, 2 verses within the chapter. I'll share both of them with you today and I hope it blesses you like it blessed me. It blessed my socks off, as I often like to say.

First, in verse 17, it states - "the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were." There's so much in that one half-verse that I can hardly get my thoughts to my fingers before another one comes full-steam ahead behind it! "The God who gives life to the dead" - do you know a dead person who needs a little life? How about a dead marriage? How about a dead friendship? And let's just be honest, I'm sure we all know a dead church that could use some life! It says right here, smack in the middle of Romans 4 that God is the giver of life! So why don't we just ask for it?

Then there's the portion of that verse that says "and calls things that are not as though they were." Will someone please shout Glory! with me???!! The context of this portion is that Abraham had righteousness credited to him by faith - - alone. Not circumcision, not position, not breeding, but faith only. Faith in the only One worth entrusting faith to. God Almighty, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom we are heirs to the throne by our simple faith. Hallelujah, someone needs to shout right now! Maybe run a little or dance, or sing or kneel?

I'm going to borrow on this verse for a minute and take it just a little farther. This is what God spoke to me, personally through this portion of this verse. Yes, the verse is talking about our righteousness credited to us simply because we believe. And that in and of itself is a miraculous work. But, even more than that, I believe that God calls us not only who we are in Him as though we already were, but what we are in Him as well. Let me give an example. God looks at a young couple just getting married who have no idea what God will do with their lives. He knows that He is going to call them to be missionaries for Him in ten years, but His time for their calling hasn't yet come. Regardless, when God sees that couple, I believe He says to Himself, there's my missionary couple. Because He calls things that are not as though they were. Do you see what I mean? Dear one, what has He called you to that has not yet come to fruition? Remember, He already calls you what, in the earthly realm, you are not. Mercy, I wish I could be there to see your face as this dawns upon you afresh like it did me. I've been praising Him all day!!

Finally, in verse 21, it states "being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." So many times I fail God by not trusting in His power to do exactly what He's promised. I trust for others. I can believe it for them, but when it comes to myself, it's a completely different story. This was a reminder for me (and God has to remind me often), to walk like I am fully persuaded that God has power to do [exactly] what He has promised. Praise the Lord! He is worthy. He is mighty and He holds more power than my mind can even fathom. Blessed be the Name of the Lord!