February 26, 2018 Monday

“For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed — God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.” (Romans 4:13-25 NKJV)

            Do you ever get weary and wonder why?  Could it be because you are running so hard trying meet the expectation of all those around you?  Could it be because you are trying to meet God’s expectations?

            The book of Romans is called the Gem of the New Testament because within it we are given a summation of all the teachings from the epistles of Paul.  Romans is a primer for being a Christian and of how to live and share faith in a pagan community.

            In Romans we discover that faith is not only essential to being a Christian it is also impossible to a Christian without it!  For if you cannot trust that the death of Jesus can cover your sins then how can you be saved!

            And that is for many Christians!  We are weary trying to meet God’s standards and laws and discovering (if we are honest) that we cannot do that!  We become like the hamster on the wheel running as hard as he can but not getting anywhere until he stops and then he goes round and round with the wheel!

            It is time to stop!!!  It is time to go from the arrogance of thinking you have to be good to seek the humility to ask God to do for you what you cannot do for yourself!  Over the years God has given me a simple theology.

God loves us enough to accept us as we are,

but God loves us enough to not leave us there.

                        In truth we have it backward.  We first need to come in faith that God will accept us as we are.  Then we must be guided by God to the works we were created for!  It is not that works earn righteousness but that righteousness is the source of works!

            Have you stopped running on that wheel growing weary not getting anywhere?  Or are you by faith living our God’s righteousness purchased for you and in love and gratitude serving the One who loves you?