Bible in One Year: Monday, November 30, 2009 (Esth 1 - Esth 3) Memorise: "And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness" (Rom 4:22) Read: Genesis 15:5-6 5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. It would interest you to know that God wants you to be outstanding. Why? First, because God does not make cheap copies. God is so great that He does not have to repeat any of His creatures. Every one He created is an original mould. One reason demands are made for your finger prints when you apply for visa, is because world over, there are no two finger prints that are exactly the same; not even those of identical twins. God created you an original mould but it is men - sinners in particular, who want to turn you into carbon copy of themselves. Jeremiah 1:4-5 tells us that God had a ready design before putting Jeremiah into shape. Whenever anyone invites you to join him or her to sin, tell the fellow God made you original and because you are special, you cannot reshape yourself into their sinful mould. Another reason God wants you outstanding is because Abraham whose seed you are, was outstanding. If a father is outstanding, his son must be outstanding too. Abraham was outstanding in faith and that is why he is now referred to as the father of faith. In Genesis 15:5-6, God pointed his gaze towards the countless stars that adorned the night sky line and said, "So shall your seed be". This man was barren as at this time yet he believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness (Rom 4:22). You can never be positively outstanding if you fail to demonstrate your faith in God. The outstanding are faith people: In fact, most times, they take their walk of faith to great limits, and it is such spiritual risks that make them outstanding. As long as you want to remain in that familiar terrain, you cannot be outstanding. If you cannot believe God to do the impossible in and through you, forget about being outstanding. Can it be said that you are outstanding in faith? Abraham was also outstanding in obedience. In Genesis 17:24, Abraham circumcised himself at the age of 99. He endured the pains of circumcision out of unparalleled obedience. Many will obey God when it is convenient. This is not obedience but cooperation. When you obey at an inconvenient time, that is true obedience and submission. Take a look at your life, and list out different times you have obeyed God and classify them under convenient and inconvenient obedience. Towards which of them do you lean the most? Ask God for grace to be outstanding in faith and obedience. ACTION POINT: Ask that our youths will stand out in faith and obedience. Lord, help me demonstrate the faith that will make me outstanding.