Prayer Practice
Breath Prayer – Take 2-3 minutes today to pray a simple breath prayer. Get somewhere quiet and relaxing. Breathe in deeply, and then breathe out fully. As you breathe in, ask God to fill you with His presence, grace, love, peace, etc. Consider using the list of spiritual fruit in Galatians 5:22-23. As you breathe out, offer to God the things you need Him to take from you – sin, doubt, shame, anxiety, fear, etc. Pray this way for just a few minutes, trusting God to work, and then begin reading today’s Scripture.
DAILY READING
REFLECTION
Life Through Faith
by Kelsey Bacon
"Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring--not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. As it is written: 'I have made you a father of many nations.'" Romans 4:16-17
This verse in Romans 4 references Genesis 17:5, which says, "No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations." I can't help but wonder what Abraham thought God meant, all those years ago. Especially as, in that moment, God was calling him to be the leader of one nation, the Israelites. How could he have possibly known that, centuries later, God would be calling Gentiles into the family? That there would be followers of God from nations all over the world?
This passage gives me a deep sense of wonderment. I am in awe of a God who loves and accepts me not because of what I do or don't do, not even because of who I am, but because of who he is. This passage makes it so clear that rules and laws do not bring you righteousness, but Jesus does. The law brings wrath. The law shows us our sin, shows us our brokenness, shows us how desperately we are in need of a savior. The law can be crushing, because it makes us see how we have failed to live into God's intention for the world.
But faith brings life. And God desires life for all. Not just the Jews, but the Gentiles. Not just those in the church, but those outside of it. Through faith, Jesus brings all into the fold. All are welcome into the family of God because all are in such desperate need of Jesus. Which means we all share the ancestry of Abraham, who was justified by faith, and not by works--just as we are. And we share that ancestry not through blood, but through faith. Jesus is the ultimate uniter, the ultimate savior, the ultimate life-bringer.
Reflect: Pray and thank Jesus for his power to bring life through faith. Ask him to show you where you need to see your sin in the face of the law, and return your eyes to him.
No comments:
Post a Comment