Ability Has Not Diminished!

God promised Abraham that He would make him a great nation. ( Genesis 12:1-2) Then as time went on Abraham began to think that the heir of his estate would be his servant Eliezer. ( Genesis 15:1-2) However, God made it clear to Abraham that the promise would be fulfilled through his own son to be born to him. ( Genesis 15:4) Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. ( Genesis 15:6) Still time went on and Abraham wondered if such could come for him at 100 years old and Sarah at 90. ( Genesis 17:17) God then again affirmed that a child would be born through Abraham’s wife Sarah. ( Genesis 17:19) When Abraham entertained three messengers from God, they too confirmed the promise ( Genesis 18), and Sarah -- having overheard these messengers -- laughed to herself, but not without being noticed.

We read…
“(13) The LORD said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ (14) IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you about this time next year, and SARAH SHALL HAVE A SON.’” ( Genesis 18:13-14 ESV)

God had not made a promise He would not keep. Neither had He made a promise He could not bring to fulfillment. Whatever God said -- as impossible as it might humanly seem -- it was NOT TOO HARD FOR THE LORD!

Do we question? Do we wonder? Do we laugh thinking it unlikely that what God has said could possibly come to be? Or do we believe God so that it can be counted as righteousness for us? Was this ability only the ability of the God of Abraham? Note what Jesus told his disciples on one occasion as He addressed the idea of the difficulty for some (namely the rich) to be saved.

We read…
“(26) But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.’” ( Matthew 19:26 ESV)

Left to ourselves there may be many impossibilities. However, with God it is not the sky, but Heaven itself that is the limit. The truth remains that God can and will bring about whatever He has promised in accordance with His Sovereign Will.

Though there was a time when Paul (as Saul) had relied upon his own righteousness, he eventually learned to rely on the Lord as the true source of strength for his life. He had an UNWAVERING TRUST IN GOD regardless of the challenges he faced. Therefore Paul would boldly declare…

“(12) I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. (13) I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH HIM WHO STRENGTHENS ME.” ( Philippians 4:12-13 ESV)

The world may laugh and wonder at OUR TRUST, but may those around us come to know that we truly do TRUST GOD to bring about every word He has promised. His Will shall prevail! There is NOTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD! By no means has His ability diminished with time. Like Abraham we may not understand the timetable, but we can be assured God will bring whatever He has promised to complete fulfillment!

Have a great day MARKED BY UNWAVERING TRUST IN GOD’S PROMISES!
Carl

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