Romans 4:13-25 (NRSV)
Read Romans 4:13-25 on biblegateway.com
Verse 13For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. Verse 14If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. Verse 15For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. Verse 16For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us,
Verse 17as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations") -in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. Verse 18Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become "the father of many nations," according to what was said, "So numerous shall your descendants be." Verse 19He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. Verse 20No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, Verse 21being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Verse 22Therefore his faith "was reckoned to him as righteousness."
Verse 23Now the words, "it was reckoned to him," were written not for his sake alone, Verse 24but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, Verse 25who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.
Devotion
“That’s hard to believe.” Have you said it?
Abraham saw the whole universe. He wondered about the one at the center of it all. Is he an enemy or a friend? In Romans we learn that the one he saw and the one in whom he believed is the one who gives life and calls things into existence.
“That’s hard to believe.” But it’s even harder to believe the unlikely promise: “You will inherit the world.” Dreaming the impossible dream, Abraham was convinced that the one at the center was able to keep this promise. Courage came with that trusting. “Follow him? You bet,” and it was reckoned unto him as righteousness. Things were A-OK between Abraham and this promiser.
It’s the same for you and me, but we live farther into the story. At the center is Christ – friend, not enemy. By grace (it’s a gift) I truly believe what’s hard to believe.
Prayer
When I think of the multitude of your galaxies, O Lord, it’s hard to believe that you take notice of me. Yet I feel the touch of your Spirit, gentle in the intimacy of this place where I live. For the unmistakable assurance of your presence that comes to me in the Word and in the sacraments, I thank you. Amen.