Lent

February 26, 2021

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

The word reckon means to find the bottom line*. This scripture is saying that Abraham’s faith was the bottom line of his righteousness.  Doing right, doing justice is often measured by how well we obey laws or treat others equitably. Paul is challenging us to see the source of our actions. Our trust in God enables everything we are or do. Our faith defines who we are. The drawing of that bottom line occurred when God’s image was implanted in us at our creation. Thus, we came equipped with the ability to have faith. Abraham chose to live his faith. We must decide what is our bottom line, too.

Remembering this truth is essential when so many people feel lost in the mainstream of life.  I watched the videos of angry, even hate-filled people storm our nation’s Capital on January 6, wondering what happened to them to make them so lost in that chaos. How have we as Christ-followers failed our neighbors who feel disenfranchised? Are we storing God’s love in silos of worldviews that limit the spread of God’s Kingdom to all people? Have we lost our bottom line as we substitute worldly idols for faith in the one true living God? Have we lost our connection to righteousness and justice?

Now is the time to reclaim our source of righteousness and let it flow out of us to enable faith as a bottom line for all people.

Prayer: Christ, your death on the cross was the ultimate sign of your love for all people. Empower our faith through your love to reckon our righteousness.  Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/3049.htm

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.