“Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”
Genesis 15:6
Sandy had just returned from Cuba where she served as leader on our Wheels for the World distribution of wheelchairs and Bibles. She shared some pretty amazing stories. I knew she wasn’t exaggerating facts. She’s not like that. When Sandy says something, I accept it as true. I believe her. Interestingly, I did not say “I believe in Sandy,” but “I believe her.” There’s a significant but subtle difference between the two. When I say that I believed Sandy, I was basically saying, “I trust her; her word is good. I know her and have confidence in her character…I believe her!”
Abram in our verse today understood the same thing. To believe someone is to have complete confidence in the very fiber of their being — it means they are utterly reliable and truthful when they say something. Abram took the Lord at His word; he had complete confidence that God was as good as His word. Conversely, if Abram had merely believed in God, it wouldn’t have meant nearly as much. Believing in God does nothing more than qualify you to be a demon,
for even the demons believe that (James 2:19).
Many people believe in God. They believe in a Supreme Being out there — in fact, lots of pagans believe a God exists. Some even believe that the God of the Bible is real, but they still don’t place their trust in Him. In John chapter 1, Jesus is called “the Word.” To believe Jesus is to trust in who He is. Do you believe in God for your needs today?
Lord and Savior, I have every confidence in Your character. You are utterly reliable and truthful. Today I am going to take You at your word even if doubts or fears arise. You have the words of life, and I am happy to say, I believe the Lord!
