There is power in the spoken word. Jesus healed the royal official’s son by simply saying, “Your son will live.” I do bank my hope on the promises of God. More often than not, however, I want to see a tangible sign or have some experience that validates why I should bank my hope on God’s spoken promises as found in his Word. And I bet many struggle with believing the promises of God in the written Word, because they too yearn for a tangible sign first to bring about more assurance that the promises are for real. How foolish are my ways, however. I know better. Often, my intellect gets in the way of simple faith. In fact, simple faith is quite mature, if it is practiced. King Melchizedek blessed Abram and Abram’s God. Abram believed and his enemies were delivered into his hands. Abram’s faith demonstrated great maturity. Abram didn’t know it, but the covenant had already been put on his mind and written on his heart. Paul reminds us of that in Hebrews as well as in Romans. Abram’s faith was reckoned as righteousness. And so I continue to cry out to God with my whole being. I need him. So do the people in Peru that are part of the partnership in ministry between Joining Hands Against Poverty and the Presbytery of Hudson River in New York. Justice is at the core of healing. Believing that is fundamental to a mature faith that advances the kingdom of God with kingdom principles. God’s promises are formed in God’s just character. Think and ponder the Truth contained in God’s promises.
Scripture texts are taken from the two-year daily lectionary cycle which follows the liturgical calendar and begins on the First Sunday of Advent.
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