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Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Romans 4:22–25

Speaking of Abraham, whose story is told in the book of Genesis, Paul wrote in the first century that his faith was counted to him as righteousness. Paul goes on to say that these words were written for his sake also and for those he was writing to. In fact he goes on to say these words were written in Genesis for "us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." So Genesis tells how Abraham's faith was counted to him as righteousness, and Paul in his letter to the Christians in Rome affirms that we who believe in God are also credited with righteousness through faith in him.

It is a good thing. I, in my own efforts, counting my own goodness, fall so far short of the righteousness that God requires of those who would enter his eternal rest. Indeed, don't we all. But we can be clothed with the righteousness of Christ through faith in him. Wow. God's love and provision are amazing. He doesn't compromise his standards in order to love sinful people. All his standards are met in Jesus' death and resurrection. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound.

His eternal gifts are so amazing, but he also gives us little gifts daily for our enjoyment. Yesterday I got to watch as a nuthatch sat on the feeder and flung seed after seed onto the ground until it found just the right one to fly off with. Usually they just land, grab a seed, and fly off. And today I got to see a half dozen pretty little goldfinches on the feeder at once. I was beginning to wonder if they had all left the area.