What joy there is in the abandonment of our own self-sufficiency. God gave Abraham the practice and rule of circumcision of all males to identify them as sons of Abraham to whom God’s promises were given. At the time Paul was writing this letter in the first century, circumcision and the law had become, in Jewish eyes, the thing that God cared about above all others. But Paul points out the hole in their reasoning; before Abraham lifted a single finger to fulfill the law, God gave him amazing and beautiful promises. God chose to mercifully look upon Abraham as though he were righteous and chose to bless him.

What was it that God saw in Abraham that would garner such generosity?

Abraham said “yes”. That’s it.

Abraham said yes to God’s invitation and that was all it took. Now if you know the story, it took decades before Abraham saw any movement in the fulfillment of the promises God gave him.  Abraham said “yes” to God’s invitation and that was a righteous “yes.” It changed everything for Abraham but it also kind of didn’t, at least not right away. It took time for the fruit of that “yes” to be revealed.

Abraham didn’t earn the blessings and promises God gave him and we don’t earn our acceptance and blessing either. Abraham said “yes “to God’s invitation and then continued to say “yes” even when it seemed like nothing was happening. Isn’t that the simplest definition of faith?

That first yes inspired those that followed.

Reflect upon your first “yes” to God. What did you commit to and what did you hope for when you said yes? If you are currently struggling to say “yes” to God today, remember that first “yes” and keep going. God is faithful and will meet you in the next “yes” and all those that follow.