Fully Persuaded

Read: Romans 4:18-22

He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. Romans 4:21

IN WORD

God spoke, and worlds were created—a vast universe, a planet springing with life, image-bearers crafted from dust and filled with the divine breath. No wonder Paul appeals to the God who calls things that are not as though they are, who utters a word and creates new things out of nothing (Romans 4:17, KJV and NLT). If we are going to place relentless faith and hope in any being, it needs to be this kind of God who makes something out of nothing.

Can our faith do that? When we see nothing yet hope in what will be, are we accomplishing anything substantial? Perhaps. As those made in God’s image, it stands to reason that we might be able to utter words by faith and see things that don’t exist come into existence. Any such capacity is derived from Him, of course, but so is anything else we do in His Spirit. Jesus made it clear that we can do nothing without Him (John 15:5). But with Him? Well, we can do a lot. Praying, hoping, speaking, and believing regardless of what we see has powerful implications for what we will see in the future.

That’s why Kingdom people are to live fully persuaded. We are to have complete trust and confidence in the King who has a tremendous track record in birthing new things, ushering in new seasons, blazing new trails, and creating new creatures. Impossibilities are not impossible with Him. Setbacks can be turned into promotions with Him. Even death can be turned into resurrection. We serve a powerful God as beings who bear His powerful image and are inhabited by His powerful Spirit.

IN DEED

Live with confidence, regardless of what you see. A human being with a Kingdom mind-set will hope, dream, pursue, create, believe, speak, expect, and press forward relentlessly. An image of the Creator and the Son could do no less; the image is always made in the likeness of the original. Anchor yourself in the faithfulness of the one who promised you the Kingdom. He has the power to accomplish it.

ADDITIONAL READING: John 15:5-8

What is more elevating and transporting than the generosity of heart which risks everything on God’s word?

JOHN HENRY NEWMAN