There is one thing, without which, you will never please God, and that one thing is faith. The Bible says in Hebrews 11:6, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”

One Bible character, named Abraham, above all others is used as an example of what a faith life is. His faith journey began with obeying God’s call and trusting God’s promises (Genesis 12:1-4). In Romans 4 we have a partial description of Abraham’s faith. His faith rested on the grace of God, not on what he deserved (v.16). His faith was in a God who was in the resurrection business (v.17). His faith was in God who, ahead of time, calls those things that do not yet exist as though they were already a reality (v.17b). His faith was in a God who gives hope when there is absolutely no visible hope (v.18-19). He was not side tracked by problems, impossibilities and human inabilities. In faith he gave glory to God every step of the way (v. 20). His faith rested totally on the ability of God (v.21). Once, when Abraham had detoured into reliance upon human reasoning, God rebuked him saying, “I am the Almighty God; walk before me” (Genesis 17:1). After describing Abraham’s faith, the Bible says that God means for us to have that same kind of faith (vs. 23-25).

For this article today the Bible truth is that God is able and faithful to keep his promises. Our key Bible verse is Romans 4:21, “And being fully persuaded that what God had promised, he was able to perform.” A practical definition of faith is: for you to believe that God is able and faithful to keep his promises and for you to act upon such belief.

Consider the promises of God to you. (1) God has promised to save you. Romans 10:9, 13, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (2) God has promised to enable you in time of testing and temptation. I Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation or testing has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (3) God has promised to forgive all your failures. 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (4) God has promised to always be with you. Hebrews 13:5-6, “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.” (5) God has promised to supply all your needs. Philippians 4:19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (6) God has promised to work all things together for good for you. Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (7) God has promised that he has saved the best for last for the child of God. II Corinthians 5:1, “Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.”

God has promised. God is able. God is faithful. We must imitate the kind of faith that Abraham had as reported in Romans 4:20-21. “Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God was able to do what he had promised.”

Words from two old Hymns come to mind: “Standing on the promises of Christ my King” and “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.”