Southlawn Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith

When I was growing up in a small town in Michigan my family attended a church in Grand Rapids that was called "Southlawn Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith". Southlawn was just one of many churches that belonged to a small denomination known as "The Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith". This was a denomination that wanted to have the faith of Abraham.

I have only recently realized what the Bible means when it says: "Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness". Abraham lived at a time when almost everyone believed in some sort of god. Abraham was a resident of the land of Haran. While this area was most likely pagan Abraham believed in the God of the Bible. But it wasn't the fact that Abraham believed in God that was counted as righteousness. It was that He believed God.

When God told Abraham to pack his bags and move, Abraham obeyed. God did not even tell him where he was going. Abraham had to believe that God would take care of both he and his family. When it came time to have offspring like "the sand on the shore" or "the stars in the sky" Abraham was old and childless. And yet still he believed. There is a big difference between believing in God and believing God. I have learned this from personal experience.

I believe in God. I have studied the scriptures and I have studied science. I know that there is clear and convincing proof that the God of the Bible is real. I have no doubt in my mind that God exists. For me it is relatively easy to believe in God. The hard part is believing God.

When I read the Bible I see multiple promises from God. I am told very clearly that all I need to do is trust in the Lord and He will provide for me. So what do I do? I worry about where the next months mortgage is coming from. I hesitate to open up the credit card bill. I complain about my job, or my spouse or just about anything else I can think of. Instead of obeying God's word, and then letting him do the providing, I instead try to provide for myself. It never seems to turn out very well.

I want to have the faith of Abraham. I want to believe God and then go and live my life like I really do. I always thought that the name "Southlawn Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith" was kind of strange. I appreciate it now.