5-21-20 THOUGHTS

Jas 2:23   and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS," and he was called the friend of God.

In my prayer life, I have started asking God to “make me what I could never be” if he wasn’t involved.   I want to be HOLY in order to be in His presence. I want to “ABIDE” in His presence.   I cannot be holy without Him making me holy.  There’s some awesome thinking provided by scripture in this area.  It thrills the soul, or it ought to!  
                     GOD MAKES ME WHAT I COULD NEVER BE!
Rom 4:17   (as it is written, "A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU") in the presence of Him whom he believed, [even] God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.
Rom 5:6     For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
What God did in Chris Jesus is the KEY to this whole beautiful thinking process.
Romans chapter 4 uses some rich words for this idea of God calling something (some one) into a place or position that it never could be without that calling.  Impute, Count & Reckon are used in the KJV.  The NASB uses the word CREDITED all the way through.  The Greek word is the same in each case, and  "logizomai" deals with reality. If it is CREDITED, it is fact!

Rom 4:3  For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."
Rom 4:4  Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.
Rom 4:5  But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,
Rom 4:6  just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
Rom 4:9  Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, "FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."
Rom 4:10  How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised;
Rom 4:11  and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them,
Rom 4:22  Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Rom 4:23  Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him,
Rom 4:24  but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
       So dear God... call into being that which does not exist.  By Jesus make me Holy!

My Prayer:
Oh Father thank you for the gift of Jesus, and all that comes through him.  In HIM, YOU changed eternity and made the impossible... POSSIBLE!  Credit your grace and mercy to us continually.  We are grateful to be ALIVE in Christ Jesus.    In Jesus Name         Amen