Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” And the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ "Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son."
You can count on God's word and promise: He will do as He has said, both in wrath, and in mercy. If we believe, then the mercy is ours, surely, for FAITH is the link with God.
But, never say that what He said He cannot or will not do. Never doubt God. Live by His word, and you live miraculously and wonderfully. You live for eternal life, and you will RECEIVE Him in the end.
First, God's promises are NOT dependent on me and you. He says, “Is anything too hard for the Lord”. It doesn't matter what weakness you have. In fact, our WEAKNESS is the door whereby the miraculous happens. Our Lord told that weakling Paul, “My strength is made perfect in weakness”, and he responded, “Therefore, most gladly, I will rather boast [in God] in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Cor 12:9). When I can't do it, then God comes and helps me, causing me to look to Him.
Indeed, Sarah and Abraham are too old, and it is IMPOSSIBLE with men, but not with God.
Shall not the Creator bring forth life? Shall not the God of all the earth RULE the elements, the adversaries, and rule in such a way whereby His promise is known? Our Lord quiets the seas, and they were amazed, saying, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!” (Luke 8:25).
Can He who cannot lie, fail? Can the Almighty need permission or strength? No, what God says is true. Bank on it.
Secondly, the promises are given to people who have no faith, and He persuades us. The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?” (Gen 18:13).
God doesn't come to us and say, “You are worthy and capable”. He comes and says, “You're going to be blessed, the sinner that you are, because of Me – My love and grace. I'm doing you good from My own heart, and I find no reason in you at all”.
He says elsewhere, “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom 3:24-25). Thus, the merit is Jesus' blood, the reason is God's unfathomable love, and the power is God's only. He CHOOSES to do wicked people good, giving them Christ to pay for sins, and giving the Spirit to subdue the flesh.
Thirdly, don't be hard on the saints. Like you, we have unbelief and faults because of it. We have our Ishmael's, just like you, and our fleshly ideas. Like you, Sarah, and Abraham, we are SINNERS, too. She laughed at God and even denied it when confronted, saying, “I did not laugh, for she was afraid” (vs15).
Thus, as you teach, warn, and pray... as you live by example, be patient and know that we can laugh at God one day and bow to Him the next. We can doubt what He has said and pay for it, but He doesn't give up there.
Today, I received a gracious email from a friend whom I'd corrected, not by name, but publicly. Of the emails I was expecting this morning, his was not on my list. But, there it was, less than 24hours after my rebuke, he tenderly, graciously, and willingly admitted that I'd been true.
He said, “Great article... and true”. I've known this man for years, and yet correction took less than a night. Let me be EVER gracious in rebuke, willing to receive all who repent, and mindful of my own wickedness as I lovingly instruct others. Our Lord said, “If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.” (Luke 17:3).
God is gracious, why not you?
Finally, life is promised to us. He said, “Sarah shall have a son” (Gen 18:14). The essence is that God will give life to those who could not produce it ourselves.
He will give obedience, love, joy, and peace. He will give heaven, for sure. He will give us all that we need to live godly, “as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us through glory and virtue” (2 Pet 1:3).
No comments:
Post a Comment