Sometimes I wonder what He's doing. Sometimes wonder why I'm in the places I'm in. And then I remember. My availability is ordered as well. My ability to be everywhere and anywhere I need to be is because He wants me there. I'm grateful to be used but I surely do need the devotional to be able to do some of these days.
SN: I legit didn't read ODB before writing this but it sure is apropos.
Romans 4:5
But to one who, not working [by the Law], trusts (believes fully) in Him Who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited to him as righteousness (the standing acceptable to God).
Oh!!!!! Not working by the law but by faith! I could run around this hotel room right now because of Grace. Grace is the only word I currently have tattooed on my body because its so profound a concept. Now in this passage Paul is talking about Abraham who was made righteous by His faith in God despite living before Christ was crucified. Thankfully we live after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, but I faith is just as important today. We are saved by grace through faith not by works. Works is living under the law. Works is trying to be good enough, moral enough, anything enough to earn His favor. What I know about myself.....I ain't able. When I think about the fact that by faith alone, Abraham was made righteous I'm encouraged. My faith isn't always as strong as Abraham's was but what God's done in my relationship with Him has strengthened it so much. I'm so grateful for His faithfulness towards me, a wayward and sometimes wishy washy human who tries and fails so very very often.
Romans 4:11-13
He received the mark of circumcision as a token or an evidence [and] seal of the righteousness which he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised—[faith] so that he was to be made the father of all who [truly] believe, though without circumcision, and who thus have righteousness (right standing with God) imputed to them and credited to their account,
12 As well as [that he be made] the father of those circumcised persons who are not merely circumcised, but also walk in the way of that faith which our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
13 For the promise to Abraham or his posterity, that he should inherit the world, did not come through [observing the commands of] the Law but through the righteousness of faith.
I love that it was His faith while He didn't have the mark or evidence of righteousness that made Him righteous. So often we confuse things we do for righteousness. The going to church, going to Bible study, going to this conference and that serve for making us righteous but it is by faith alone that we are made appropriate before a Holy and Loving God. What's so important throughout scripture is the attitude of the heart. And sometimes mine isn't right. I want it to be so desperately but sometimes it just isn't. That's okay though. There's grace there but there's also something else: tough love. God isn't going to do what I want Him to do unless its good for me in this season. Often times I've wanted Him to move well before it was time and I'm so thankful, looking back, that He didn't. He's perfecting my attitude daily, no by changing who He is or what He's going to do but by changing who I am and how I interpret Him. The more radical understanding of love and kindness I have of Him, the more clarity of perspective I develop. I have to believe its all working for me good or He wouldn't be doing it. Can I offer that the more clear I am about that fact the more peace I have? Because I do. I've found more peace knowing that and choosing to believe it until I can see it. Faith....its a real walk but its so worth it.
Romans 4: 16
Therefore, [inheriting] the promise is the outcome of faith and depends [entirely] on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of grace (unmerited favor), to make it stable andvalid and guaranteed to all his descendants—not only to the devotees and adherents of the Law, but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, who is [thus] the father of us all.
Everything depends on faith. Faith is the cornerstone of religion. If you do not believe what are you? I so often have to ask God to help my unbelief, not because I don't believe but because doubt is always around the corner. There are so many times I've heard from Him and needed more confirmation. Its not that I don't believe Him but sometimes He's so audacious with telling you what He has for you that you're like "Really God? Me?" Or at least I'm like that. Maybe y'all aren't but I constantly dumbstruck by what He has for me. I'm never sure why He'd ever use me but I'm grateful to be used. I'm grateful for the things He's put on my heart to believe and to do. and I'm careful to remember to give Him the glory for all He's doing.
But can I offer that faith, even small faith, is such a beautiful thing to God? I think it is. I think even when I need confirmation its at minimum a statement to God of my wanting to believe. And each and every time He's faithful, He grows my faith. I know Him for myself and He's been so amazing in my life that I'm willing and capable of trusting Him with bigger and bigger things. The faith walk I'm in now is probably the biggest one of all because I think its going to bring Him such glory and be such an example to those who thought God wouldn't bless me as I am. I'm just waiting because His grace.....it endures.
Romans 4:17
As it is written, I have made you the father of many nations. [He was appointed our father] in the sight of God in Whom he believed, Who gives life to the dead and speaks of the nonexistent things that [He has foretold and promised] as if they [already] existed.
So y'all know I love words. Duh....that's why I write. So what I love here is the part where He says God..."speaks of the nonexistent things that He has foretold and promised as if they already existed." COME THROUGH! I pray like this all the time. I pray with the promises He's made me because it strengths my faith. I also pray with assurances He's given me throughout the Word. The better I know the Word, the more fleshed out I've found my prayer life to be. There are so many things I want to say and often times I find them in the Word, spelled right out. Things I knew about God in the Spirit are right there in Black and White. I love that the indwelling never contradicts the Father because they are one being. He's promises never return void. I believe it even when its hard. Even when its impossible, my Bible says possible.
Romans 4: 20-24
No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God,
21 Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised.
22 That is why his faith was credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God).
23 But [the words], It was credited to him, were written not for his sake alone,
24 But [they were written] for our sakes too. [Righteousness, standing acceptable to God] will be granted and credited to us also who believe in (trust in, adhere to, and rely on) God, Who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
I want to have faith like this. I don't. He's still working on me. I'm so thankful to be living after the sacrifice of Jesus because I don't have to have unwavering faith to have a relationship with God or to be righteous. The blood did that for me. Made me righteous and in right standing with the Father but I long to have a faith like Abraham. I'm inspired and encouraged by His demonstrated and recorded faith in God. A faith that believes so strongly that He didn't even need the demonstration of love that is the cross to believe. Like I said earlier, I think the small faith that He's grown in me, the relationship that we have that's matured so much over the years is important too. God meets you were you're at. That's why I call this series Walk With Me Lord. Its a journey.
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