Faith is best understood when we see it in the lives of great men. Abraham was called the father of the faithful because in him faith came to life. Abraham had faith in a God-given vision. The vision that God gave Abraham was so big that it challenged him for a lifetime. God's vision for Abraham's life was the motivating factor that made Abraham a great man. What he became by reaching for that God-given vision was the key to his greatness.

The question beckons; how does one acquire faith?

Abraham's faith was acquired through his decision to trust God. There was fear and trepidation in the heart of Abraham as he faced the unknown. Yet, his decision to obey God and face the unknown was his mark of faithfulness.  It is difficult to see the unseen. Many only see the immediate. They reach out for things they can tangibly put their hands on. They never look beyond themselves, and they never look at what they could be. The courage to look and move into the unknown comes from trusting God. Trusting God is the beginning of faith. But merely trusting does not develop faith. Faith involves making a decision to follow God as we hear what He says.

Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

There is a vast difference in the results of a man who thinks different and the man who chooses to do differently. The Doer will outrun the thinker. We easily become egotistical about the way we think if we rely on self and not God.

Faith is developed by trusting and obeying. Some want to move forward only when they can see their way through. But faith is not seeing our way through; it is obeying and trusting God when we cannot see our way through.

2 Corin 5:7
For we walk by faith and not by sight.

God specializes in things that are impossible. That's good news because every Christian faces obstacles along life's pathway and walking in God's will doesn't guarantee that the way will be easy. That's why we must trust God and go forward in faith.

Example

At the entrance of a shopping mall car park is an automatic gate. It is designed to go up when a car activates a hidden sensor near the entrance. When someone drives up the ramp leading to that gate, it remains down, firmly blocking the entrance. But as you get close to it, the arm swings up and you proceed right through. If a person were to park his car a few yards away from the entrance, it would stay closed. Only as you move forward does it open.

Is there some barrier across your path just now? Someone has said, "If God built a bridge a yard ahead, it could not be a bridge of faith." It's that first step into the unseen that proves we have faith.

Hebrews 11:8
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place, which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

He was obeying God and relying on Him. His task was to go; God's was to clear the path.

CONCLUSION

The key words are to TRUST and OBEY the Lord. Remember this song?

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Chorus

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Chorus

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

Chorus

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.


But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Chorus

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.


Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Chorus

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

God bless