“With God…”
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, may Your eternal light and Your enduring truth lead me into Your holy presence.
Read ROMANS 4:13–25
13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, 15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.
16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.
18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” 23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
New International Version (NIV)
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Reflect
“For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37, KJV). We worship a God who has shown that he can do what humans regard as impossible.
The Queen of Hearts in Alice through the Looking Glass believed six impossible things before breakfast. The casual spectator might
think that Abraham was the same sort of fantasist when he believed that as
a childless couple in their nineties he and Sarah would have descendants to
inherit the world. But Abraham believed in a God who was faithful to his
promises and could do the impossible.
Paul has made it clear that the descendants of Abraham include Gentiles
who have a faith like his. Abraham was twice called to believe that God
brings life from the dead: first from the dead womb of Sarah and then when
he was called to sacrifice Isaac. Christians also believe in the resurrection
from the dead—of Jesus our Lord. This wonderful inclusion in the one family
of Abraham—because of faith, not works—gives to all Christians a new,
unmerited status. The attitudes of pride that divided the Roman
congregation socially and racially; the concern for status and personal honor
which characterized the Roman and Greek worlds—all these are shown to
be irrelevant now that the one basis of faith unites the community. More
than that, we are united as beneficiaries of the death of Jesus. For our
trespasses he was handed over to death and by his resurrection we are
justified. There is no greater honor than to be someone who is right with
God.
Paul notes that Abraham’s faith does not waver throughout his long life and
the lengthy wait for the fulfillment of the promises. Such faith is a challenge
to us who live with a fuller revelation that our God fulfills his promises. In
the face of disappointment, sufferings, unfulfilled hopes and personal
failures, we can remind ourselves again that our God is absolutely
trustworthy.
Apply
Jesus is alive (4:23–25)! How does this affect who you are and what you want to become?
Closing prayer
Lord, at times life really grinds me down. I pray for a new infusion of hope based on Your faithfulness and the glory of the Risen Christ.
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