Day 586: Is an Attorney Needed?Romans 4:13-14
It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless...
Thoughts for Today:I read recently of a Professor who posed the following problem to one of
his classes: "A wealthy man dies and leaves an inheritance of ten million dollars. One-fifth is to go to his daughter, one-fifth is to go to his son, one-sixth to his
brother, and the rest to his wife. Now, what does each one get?" After a very long silence in the classroom, an astute student raised his hand and said, "A lawyer?"
All joking aside, sometimes it may seem as if what God wants of us is so complicated that we too need an attorney to sort through all the requirements. In our passage today Paul tells us it's all rather simple: If living by the Law (rules and regulations) saved us, then faith would have no value. And if faith has no value, then God's promise to Abraham is worthless and faith has no purpose. Yet we know Abraham received righteousness because he believed God (Genesis 15:6). The law and circumcision had nothing to do with it. It's really very straightforward: God wants us to believe Him.
Questions to Ponder:If we think God has established a complicated list of rules for us to follow in order to be saved -- then we've completely missed the purpose of faith. Do you feel like you need an attorney to help you figure what God wants of you? Have you made your faith too complicated?
It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless...
Thoughts for Today:I read recently of a Professor who posed the following problem to one of
his classes: "A wealthy man dies and leaves an inheritance of ten million dollars. One-fifth is to go to his daughter, one-fifth is to go to his son, one-sixth to his
brother, and the rest to his wife. Now, what does each one get?" After a very long silence in the classroom, an astute student raised his hand and said, "A lawyer?"
All joking aside, sometimes it may seem as if what God wants of us is so complicated that we too need an attorney to sort through all the requirements. In our passage today Paul tells us it's all rather simple: If living by the Law (rules and regulations) saved us, then faith would have no value. And if faith has no value, then God's promise to Abraham is worthless and faith has no purpose. Yet we know Abraham received righteousness because he believed God (Genesis 15:6). The law and circumcision had nothing to do with it. It's really very straightforward: God wants us to believe Him.
Questions to Ponder:If we think God has established a complicated list of rules for us to follow in order to be saved -- then we've completely missed the purpose of faith. Do you feel like you need an attorney to help you figure what God wants of you? Have you made your faith too complicated?
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