A Thought for Tuesday 24 February 2015

“What shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?  For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before The Lord.  For what does the Scripture say?  ‘Abraham believed The Lord, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’  To him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.”  Romans 4:1-4 NKJV

What can we suppose to have happened had Abraham only “believed” The Lord but did nothing?  Sometimes we make too much of “works” as if doing for The Lord in response to The Lord’s mercy somehow brings a curse.  Or the “works” we do through and in the Church can somehow be perceived as a futile effort to gain Divine favor. 

To be sure, The Lord cannot be bought nor can The Lord be impressed by the “works” we may choose to do only to justify ourselves as a “good person”.  However, the gift of Life requires much more than an intellectual acknowledgment – as to simply “believe” something.  Trust is the issue, and a solid response is required.  Abraham was already long gone from his homeland before this moment St. Paul quotes from (Genesis 15).  The Lord issued a proclamation to Abraham and, yes, an order; and Abraham responded in faith by leaving behind everything he had become accustomed to and comfortable with.  Not being exactly sure what was in store for him, Abraham nevertheless packed up and ventured out in faith.  It can be easily said Abraham clearly “believed” The Lord, but that belief manifested itself in something more tangible than simply believing.

We must not get so caught up in a false or misleading notion of “works” to the point that nothing ever gets done.  The very foundation of our faith is through Abraham’s willingness to follow The Lord wherever The Lord would lead him; “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land I will show you” (Genesis 12:1).  Abraham did not simply “believe”; Abraham trusted The Lord.  There is a profound difference.

Pray we may learn the difference before The Church disappears altogether from the spiritual wasteland our country seems to have become.  The Lord is counting on His people to trust Him enough to follow Him.  Do we?  Shall we?  Indeed we must.

Blessings,

Michael