The main questions in this section of Romans 4 are:

• What is God’s promise to us?
• In what way is Abraham to be an example for us?
• Where is your focus for the big picture and the day-to-day details?

¹³ Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith. ¹⁴ If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless. ¹⁵ For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!)
¹⁶ So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. ¹⁷ That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.”
 This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.
¹⁸ Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” ¹⁹ And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.
²⁰ Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. ²¹ He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. ²² And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. ²³ And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded ²⁴ for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. ²⁵ He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.

Romans 4:13-25 (NLT)

I chose three categories: GOD’S PROMISE, THE LAW, and FAITH to organize the information from these verses. God is my fourth category, because all of scripture points us toward God.

GOD’S PROMISE. What is His promise, and who is it for?

THE LAW. Why are laws made? What is their purpose?

FAITH. What does faith look like? How do we live in faith?

GOD. What more have we learned about God in this reading?

Do these verses make you feel overwhelmed and pressured? Or do they evoke freedom and security? Is faith something you can just “feel?” Tell me what message you received in this reading.

Don’t just say it, show me! Draw or choose a picture based on the message God has for you in these verses. Share your picture with me at KSEvenhousewwv@gmail.com. And check in tomorrow to see my answers.

Above photo by Elena Taranenko on Unsplash