In the book of Genesis, verse six of the fifteenth chapter declares the response of Abram towards God after receiving instructions. The stanza begins, “And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” Abram is the person that believes the word from God, and his approach to the reply pleases the Creator. Faith and Righteousness are actively working together in the sight of the Master of the universe. Do we have that mentality upon receiving the Word of God based on our questions answered?
In the Old Testament, faith had a dual designation: The first is the “trust in” or “reliance upon.” Secondly is the “fidelity to” or “faithfulness.” Therefore, “believe” is to persevere in trust and belief by manifesting an obedient faithfulness. Abram displays this kind of faith in his heart in the sight of God. His action turned toward the Lord in an enduring trust, obedience, and submission.
Today, many followers have questions about this particular verse. We hear it in the Old Testament, but how come so few experience the same result as Abram? The answer is the heart attitude. Why do so many people fall short? The demeanor is the missing link of gaining the approval of God as we live.
God saw Abram’s heart-attitude of faith and counted it to him for Righteousness. The term means the right relationship to God and His will. In addition, God entered into a covenant fellowship with Abram whereby he received God as his shield and reward, many descendants, and the promise of the land. They work together. The fact that God and Abram are both in unison creates the opportunity for others.
Under the new covenant, God’s blessing, a right relationship with Him, and fellowship with Him also come through faith. How many of us can say we did apply these steps above to experience this privilege? To recap, if we receive instruction or advice from God and say yes but our heart says no, will it work?
If God gives us a word and heart and soul agree, but our fellowship begins to decline, will it work? God already knows our thoughts and sees the heart.
The will of God should be on our minds and embedded in our hearts. When we approach it from His perspective, we should see the results similar to Abram. Trust, obedience, and submission attract God’s attention.