Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."
ABRAM’S FAITH, A TYPE OF OUR OWN (3)
In our text Abram, the father of believers, is deeply troubled by something. Today we note that God took the initiative and gave His troubled servant a wonderful word of promise: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."
Fellow Christian, does our oft-wavering and sorely tempted faith begin to imagine, like Abram, that the only solution to that mountain looming before us is a human one?
Let's hear what Dr. Luther writes in his Large Catechism: "You must learn to call [to God], not sitting by yourself or lying on your couch, hanging and shaking your head, gnawing and biting yourself with your thoughts, worrying and seeking how you may be rid of them; but up…fall on your knees and…pray a psalm or the Lord's Prayer, and bring your trouble and your tears before God....He wants you to lay your trouble before Him and not leave it resting upon yourself as a burden and dragging it along with you, making of your misfortune two, yea, three or a hundred. Whatever it may be, cast it on a heap before Him as when you open your heart to a good friend."
In a word, dear Christian, open up your heart to God, as a trusting child does to its parents, trust His Word and promises, and hear Him assure also you: "Fear not, I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."
As the hymnwriter paraphrases it:
"Fear not! I am with you, oh, be not dismayed;
For I am your God and will still give you aid;
I'll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.
"The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose
I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never, forsake!"
(Lutheran Service Book, 728:2-3)
