The point we picked up on at the end of yesterday's post is that faith is clearly the instrument by which we receive salvation—the righteousness of God given to us through Jesus Christ. This is Paul's focus in chapter 4, and he starts with the example of Abraham, whom the Jews held as their most renowned forefather. Abraham was justified by grace, through faith. If he had been justified by his own works then he would have something to boast about, because "to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due" (vs 4).
Not only was Abraham justified by faith, but God promised him that he would be the father of many nations. That's a big promise to make to anyone let alone a guy who's 100 years old! But look what the text says about Abraham's faith: "No distrust 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" (vv 20-21).
Do you have that kind of faith? Not just the "positional faith" to know that you are justified as Abraham was, but what one of my pastors calls the "in-between faith." The kind of faith you have when you're stuck in between where you are and where you want to be. You're lonely so you want a boyfriend or girlfriend; you're broke so you want a job to get some money; you lost a close relative and you just want the hurting to stop—whatever it is for you. It's in these times when it's hardest for us to trust God, to put our faith in him. Ask yourself, no matter what your "in between" is, "Will I trust God's promises, giving glory to him, knowing that he is able to do what he has promised?"
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