Belief

"Abraham believed in the Lord"

Genesis 15:6

"Abraham believed God"

Romans 4:2

See the difference?  It's slight.  But huge. 

Well, huge to me.

It's that one little word, "in". 

Abraham believed God, and he believed in God. 

It's two different things, ya know?  Do you believe in God?  Do you believe in His existence?  Do you believe that He is the Creator?  The Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the King of kings and Lord of lords? 

That is simple acknowledgement.   It's the first step of faith, and it is what will lead to all the promises of faith.  It's the beginning, but it's not the end. 

I think it's a far more difficult thing to believe God.   Believing God is taking Him at His Word.  Believing Him is accepting His promises; accepting the blessings He promises. 

There was a long time in Abraham's life when he had never heard of God.  He was a simple man living a simple life.  But God came to him and spoke to him, and Abraham believed in Him.  And it was credited to him as righteousness. 

But then it got a little more difficult, because God challenged Abraham to act on his faith.  He told him to leave his country and his people, and go to a new land.  That's when Abraham had a choice to make. 

As do we.  When's the last time God asked you to believe Him?  When's the last time you stepped out in faith?  When's the last time you made a decision that wasn't for your good, but for His glory?  When's the last time He asked you to do something that made you wonder ~ but you did it anyway?

The Bible asks us to do a lot of difficult things, but none of them are without a promise.  The question is, do you believe Him?

~ "Jesus said to her,

'Did I not say to you that if you would believe,

     you would see the glory of God?' " ~

John 11:40

~