Lent

February 25, 2021

Scripture Reading: Romans 4:13-25

For 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. If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.

For 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, as 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.—Romans 4:13-17

Laws are shorthanded ways to avoid chaos, often defined by consensus in the informal world, more formally developed, and enforced by governments of some type. We need laws to function well as our world becomes more complex. Yesterday my across-the-street neighbor called out to me that she was sorry; she had to park her car across the street behind my driveway. She said she would move it as soon as the vehicle parked in front of her house moved. The street between our homes was built for Model T’s. I told her I was not planning to leave for the rest of the day. Stoplights control the traffic flow at the intersections on the major street behind my house. If we fail to obey the lights, we risk getting a ticket.

Paul was raised under the laws of Moses. Those included The Commandments he received on Mt. Sinai and some 600+ laws that are the equivalent of our civil laws and even etiquette. Paul’s encounter with Jesus Christ made him see Abraham’s experience with God’s covenant differently. Abram had left his home by faith following the calling of the one God he had encountered. The relationship of faith preceded the development of laws.

Paul is saying that the God of Abraham wishes to be in a relationship with all the nations’ people. God’s Son, Jesus Christ, came to rekindle that faith relationship. He called us into discipleship with him to create God’s Kingdom here on Earth. Yes, laws can help establish order, but our relationships of faith, hope, and love with God and each other drive who we are and how we answer God’s call to create a world ruled by love.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the gift of your love that gives sustains us through grace. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.