(The following is the June 18 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Romans 4 and pay close attention to verses 13-25.)

Paul repeatedly affirms Abraham’s faith and reminds the Romans that this faith “was credited to him for righteousness” (v. 22). Abraham’s faith (not his works) was why God declared him righteous. Likewise, Hebrews states: “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and set out for a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise” (Heb. 11:8-9).

As for Abraham’s wife, “By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the one who had promised was faithful” (Heb. 11:11). Abraham “did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body already dead (since he was about a hundred years old) and also the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do” (vv. 19-21).

Both Abraham and Sarah believed in God’s promises even when those promises seemed absurd logically and biologically. They knew God was capable of whatever he promised and would be faithful in keeping his promises.

Do we share that same confidence? Do our lives reflect the assurance that God is able and eager to keep his promises regardless of worldly reasoning and objections to them?

Next Step:
What biblical promises are foundational to your faith and walk with Christ? Do you find some difficult to believe? Study the relevant passages and pray for understanding and faith regarding its promises.