Abraham's faith was not perfect, but he continued to grow stronger in faith as he encountered God and received the word from Him. He learned to look less at his flesh and more at God's promises, and this brought him joy, leading him to give glory to God. Abraham believed in God's promises, and his faith was counted to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6).

Like Abraham, our faith is apart from any works. We are justified by faith (Romans 5:1), and the way we began the Christian Life is the way we continue it (Galatians 3:3). We are not here to build up our own righteousness or seek to qualify ourselves for anything or make anything happen ourselves related to God’s purposes. Instead, we believe in what God has said about Christ, so that Christ can manifest Himself in us through faith (Galatians 2:16).

What is our expectation? Are we expecting to be better, behave better, be more loving and kind, learn to be more patient with those around us? These are false expectations and are not the hope presented to us in Paul’s Gospel. He presents “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col 1:26-27).

Because we walk by faith like Abraham, we expect Christ. We expect Jesus to be with us and to never leave us (Matthew 28:20). We expect Him to dwell in us and to manifest His life in us (Galatians 2:20). We expect Him to give us strength, to lead us in the path of righteousness, and to shepherd us (Psalm 23:1-3).

Just like Abraham, we may not see the fruit instantly, but we will give time for God because we believe in Jesus Christ. As we learn to live by faith in Him and learn to keep coming to Him, He will demonstrate Himself to us, both in His word and in His faithfulness in our life. Based on this knowledge and history with Him, we will wax strong in the faith and eventually simply reckon our own body as dead while looking to Him who “calls those things that are not as though they are and gives life to the dead” (Romans 4:19-21). Our faith will continue to grow, and we will become more constituted with the word (Romans 10:17).

Because we walk by faith like Abraham, we expect Christ. We are blessed because He's forgiven our sins (Ephesians 1:7) and made us partakers of the promise of Abraham (Galatians 3:29). We are heirs of God who has predestined us for an inheritance (Ephesians 1:11). We expect Christ because He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). And we expect joy because Christ is our reward and our satisfaction amid everything (John 15:11).

Dear God, I thank you for your love and the sacrifice of your son, Jesus Christ, who died for me while I was still a sinner. I believe in you and your promises, and I know that faith apart from works justifies me. I thank you I am qualified. I am heirs of your promise. I expect Jesus to be with me always and to dwell in me, manifesting His life in me. I trust that He will shepherd me, give me strength, and lead me in the path of righteousness. I thank you for forgiving my sins and making a blessed person. I know that all things work together for good to them that love you, and I trust in your word, which gives me faith and joy. Thank you for never leaving me nor forsaking me, and for being my reward and my satisfaction in the midst of everything. I believe in you, and I will continue to grow in faith and give glory to you, as Abraham did. In Jesus' name, Amen.