Part 1 – Flexibility Training – Reading
Today we meet one of the most pivotal men of history: Abraham. Today we will read the beginning of what made him such a great man of faith.
If you look at the chart of life-spans of those from Adam through Abram [Abram, aka Abraham – more on that name change later], you’ll see that Abram’s life overlaps Noah’s. Was it possible that they knew each other? Or that Young Abram had hear Old Noah’s stories about how God called him to build an ark? When God called Abram, did knowing the stories of Noah help him say “yes”? Read Genesis chapters 11:27 through 12:20, the end of the next chapter. Watch for signs of Abram’s faith.
A thousand years and more later, the New Testament writers called Abraham a man of great faith. And in these chapters, as well as in the next several, we see that when God told Abram to do something, he did it as quickly as possible. But in this chapter, we also see that when God wasn’t giving explicit directions, Abram had a tendency to live in fear. Instead of protecting his wife from men who might have evil intentions toward her, Abram basically gave his wife away to another man. The men of “great faith” in the Old Testament were just as flawed as we are and the Bible does not attempt to hide that. Like Abram, we can be encouraged to stand strong and obey God immediately, even when we keep blowing it.
PART 2 – Strength Training – Memory & Thinking
Keep reviewing the previous verses you learned in the first week as you add to them this next verse.
Romans 4:13 Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith.
As you read the verses below, think about how they point us toward the faith of Abraham and encourage us to live our lives in that same faith.
Hebrews 11:8-10 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
Galatians 3:7-9 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
Romans 4:13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.
Part 3 – Cardio Training – Prayer
As you pray today, ask God to help you be obedient even as Abram was. You might pray something like this:
Father, I want to be a person of faith. I want to be obedient to You. But there are times that I find it difficult to honor Your call. Help me want to honor You. Help me want to obey You. Increase my faith and my courage so that even as Abram went to land he didn’t know, left all his family behind, help me be willing to leave all behind for You.
Part 4 – Endurance Training
Abram endured in spite of his failures. He kept looking to God, trusting God would honor His promises. As you persevere in your faith, keep Abram’s example before you and continue to look to God who honors His promises. See you here again tomorrow.
An Extra Lap
In the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, there is a powerful scene that illustrates that step of faith so well. From where Indiana stood on that ledge, it looked like there was no way to reach the cavern in which he knew he would find the Holy Grail. Too far to jump, and nothing to grab his whip onto. But his father’s notebook had told him that he would need to demonstrate faith. So he took a step into what looked like nothing. And he found solid rock under his feet. Now Indiana Jones is just a story. But the biography of Abram is real. So is the power and faithfulness of God. Think about those places in your own life where you think God is asking you to take a step of faith even as Abram did. Write down what comes to your mind and spend time praying and asking God about it.
Faith Gym 