Genesis 17:5

No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.

Here we see how God works with Abram. First Abram was called from an idol worshipping family by God that did not know the God of heavens and earth. Next we see that Abram was asked to leave his own family and walk to a place showed by God himself. Next thing we know is that God made a covenant with Abram to multiply him exceedingly. Now Abram reaches to a point where God tells him that he is going become a father of many nations. At this point by faith Abraham believed God. Hebrews 11:8-12 says this: By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.….Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

John mentioned in the Gospel of John that as many as received Jesus Christ to them Jesus gave them the right to become the children of God. Even today by faith we believe in Christ Jesus. Friends there is no other way to become a child of God. Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and man (us). Without Jesus there is nothing we can do to become the children of God. For 75 years Abram was minding his own business and perhaps was grieving as he was childless. Both Abram and Sarai were both past the age of child bearing. They had no hope of having their own children. They probably have tried everything that was available during their time. Yet they did not realize that God had a plan for Abram.

We all at some point in our lives wandered away from God, never thought about God or God’s promises and kept trying to do things by our own strength. Sometimes we end up like Abram old and unable to accomplish things in life or unable to achieve goals of this life. Many leave the earth disheartened. The reality is that no one is far from God. We all because of our motives keep God far away. God wants to enter into our lives if we allow Him. Man’s nature is to reject the call of God. In order to fix this God sent His only Son Lord Jesus Christ to save us from our sins. Even then countless number people are rejecting Christ everyday thinking that they know better than the creator of heavens and the earth. How sad!

God gave Abram a new name ABRAHAM. From Avram to Abr-ah-am. From the exalted father to the father of multitudes. Ah in Hebrew means God’s breath/life. God inserted Himself in Abraham’s name. When a person becomes a born again Christian, that person becomes the temple of God. The Spirit of God lives in us. We become the dwelling place for His Spirit. That is the reason a Christian has to be extremely careful with his behavior. In the Old Testament carrying the Ark was a huge task. If one was not careful with the Ark, God would put them to death. Similar principle applies to the New Covenant believers. God does not put His children to death but the scripture says that we are not to grieve the Holy Spirit. But many Christians do not understand this spiritual truth.

May Christ Jesus our Lord open our hearts and minds and speak to us through His Spirit. In Jesus precious name. Amen.

Maranatha!