“Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.”
(Genesis 12:6–7, ESV)
So he built there an altar to the Lord. So often in life, we struggle between the promise and the possession. Someone tells us they will do something but we doubt. We know they are good to their word but they have made a bigger promise. Will they follow through? Will they do what they said they would? Doubt drills deep into our faith with people and with God.
Abram had made the long journey with all that he had. He had toured the land and enjoyed what he saw. Then, that night at camp, God promised him that the land he was standing on was his. His descendants would enjoy a heritage that God had promised Abram way back in Haran. Here he was. Where God promised. What was unseen then was real estate now. Promise became possession.
The writer of Hebrews in the New Testament tells us, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1, ESV) What is interesting is that the word translated “conviction” here can also be used to describe “real estate.”
God wants us to stand on His promises as if they are a done deal. In other words, His promises are our possession. Faith is so sure that God will deliver what He promises that believing God is like standing on our possession before we’ve ever left to pursue it.
To celebrate God’s gift, Abram worshiped. He chose to stop looking and start honoring the God who had called him and blessed his entire journey with safety and direction. Abram dropped all that he had in worship once again before the feet of the One who alone owns it all and gifts it to whomever He chooses. There, in Canaan, Abram rolled all his praise upon the Lord God Almighty who knows the beginning from the end and who alone is worthy of our praise.
Today, stop, drop, and roll whether you are at the promise or headed toward the possession!
Faith Filled Fridays hopes to boost your trust in God and accelerate your daring and courage in everyday life. Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, writes each encouragement out of a heart that has known both great joy and great loss – his wife of 38 years, 5 months and 2 days was promoted to Heaven on November 11, 2017. Through every experience, God has proven Himself more than faithful and trustworthy. He welcomes your comments below.
