Romans 4:6-13 (NRSV)
Read Romans 4:6-13 on biblegateway.com
Verse 6So also David speaks of the blessedness of those to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works: Verse 7"Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; Verse 8blessed is the one against whom the Lord will not reckon sin."
Verse 9Is this blessedness, then, pronounced only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We say, "Faith was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness." Verse 10How then was it reckoned to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. Verse 11He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the ancestor of all who believe without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them, Verse 12and likewise the ancestor of the circumcised who are not only circumcised but who also follow the example of the faith that our ancestor Abraham had before he was circumcised. 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.
Devotion
When I was young, my bedroom was the only one upstairs. Outside the window, a large oak tree would cast shadows into my room. They danced on the floor near my bed, and I was scared. My parents knew of my fear, but believed it was a safe place for me. So with their words of promise, I headed up into the dark every night. After a while, their promise proved stronger than my fears. God made a promise to Abraham and to all of Abraham's children, you and me included. God's promise is far bigger than my parents', but it's just as real. Our promise is that we might be heirs of God's kingdom. Do you rest in that promise? Does it propel you through your fear?
Prayer
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.
(Romans 4:13 NIV)