Lent
February 25, 2018
Scripture Reading: Romans 4:13-25
Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become ‘the father of many nations’, according to what was said, ‘So numerous shall your descendants be.’ He 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. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Therefore his faith ‘was reckoned to him as righteousness.’ Now the words, ‘it was reckoned to him’, were written not for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification. –Romans 4:18-25
I am always surprised when I read the words reckoned to him as righteousness. The word “reckon” in my experience is a slang word meaning agreeing to something. “I reckon so.” Apparently, it is an accounting term itemizing credits to someone. The NIV uses the word credited.
The Bible is full of stories of people who communed with God routinely and trusted that God would keep God’s commitments. A two-way relationship existed. God expected God’s followers to keep their commitments. Abraham’s story is one where Abraham was committed to God even with some imperfections. There are, of course, stories of those who did not keep commitments. The whole tribes of Israel eventually failed and were taken into captivity.
Our scripture today speaks of Abraham being fully convinced that God was able to do what God had promised. I certainly agree with that, but I may not have the faith of Abraham who, taking God at his word, pioneered new lands and met new people as he fulfilled his response to God’s covenant with him. If we are fully convinced that God can do what God promises are we living that faith to its fullest? I have read several opinions recently that taking God out of the schools is the reason for the school shootings. I cannot help but wonder if that is not reactionary on the part of the church knowing that we are not succeeding in spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. Since I believe that God is omnipresent, it is impossible to take God out of school. God is in the image of every student and staff and the hearts of every one of God’s followers. The question we followers of God must consider are we being conduits of the love of God to all God’s children? God’s love is not judgment or condemnation, God’s love is not forcing others to understand and worship God as we do. God’s love is accepting people where they are and enabling them in any way possible to become the person God created them to be as we make that same journey. Our covenant with God through Jesus Christ is that commitment to love, and the same God of Abraham enables us every step of the way as we seek to do God’s will. God reckons our love as righteousness.
Prayer: Almighty God, we live in very trying times. Our world is fragmented and fearful. Please take us as we are and guide us to being who you envisioned us to be fully engaged in loving you and loving like Jesus. Amen.