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
Sometimes it still haunts me. I was entrusted to shepherd a group of fellow college-age counselors for a week of day camp at a congregation. Rather than being a leader, I fell prey to a selfish desire for acceptance and allowed one member of our group to become an outcast.
When guilt threatens to suffocate us, reminding us of just how unrighteous we are, we have a great cloud of witnesses, like Abraham, to turn to for strength. He was imperfect but faithful, and so was forged into the father of Israel. Indeed it is our faith—our trust in God's promise and Christ's work—that saves us! What wonders might God accomplish through us when we let go and entrust our spirit to God with full confidence that he provides us not an end, but a new beginning, through resurrection?
Prayer
God of faith, help us let go of those sins and failings that haunt us, in order to live as people of faith, transforming this world and building your kingdom in ways big and small each day. Amen.