Today's Reading: Genesis 15:1-6

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 4:1-27; John 12:1-19

And (the LORD) brought (Abram) outside and said, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:5,6)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. When Abram was 75 and his wife Sarai was 65, the LORD spoke to him and said, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 12:1-3).

Abram believed God told the truth and he obeyed. They left their home and settled in Canaan, waiting on the LORD to fulfill His promise. They waited. And waited. Abraham was 100 when Sarah gave birth to Isaac. Decades after the initial promise, God shows Abram the stars of heaven and says his descendants will outnumber them… and Abram still believed God.

Paul describes Abraham's faith in Romans 4: "In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, ‘So shall your offspring be.' He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead… or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was ‘counted to him as righteousness'" (Romans 4:18-22).

Faith doesn't just save Abraham. It saves all who believe in Christ. Paul continues, "But the words ‘it was counted to him' were not written for Abraham's sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification" (Romans 4:23-25). In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

The whole triumphant host give thanks to God on high. "Hail, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!" They ever cry. Hail Abraham's God and mine! I join the heavenly lays: All might and majesty are Thine and endless praise! ("The God of Abraham Praise" LSB 798, st.9)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch