HOPE AGAINST HOPE - THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)

DATE: SUNDAY, 24TH APRIL, 2022 

TOPIC: HOPE AGAINST HOPE

TEXT: ROMANS 4:13-25 

13.  For the promise that he would be the heir of the world [was] not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

14.  For if those who are of the law [are] heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect,

15.  because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law [there is] no transgression.

16.  Therefore [it is] of faith that [it might be] according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all

17.  (as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations") in the presence of Him whom he believed -- God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;

18.  who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be."

19.  And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb.

20.  He did not waver orruptible man -- and birds and belief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,

21.  and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

22.  And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness."

23.  Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him,

24.  but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead,

25.  who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

MESSAGE: 

Abraham received the promise that he would be the heir of the world and he believed it. His belief was credited to him as righteousness; hence, it was not because of anything he did or would have done – just simple faith in what God had said. Though simple, faith must be ready to have hope in hopeless situations. Judging from his prevailing circumstances, Abraham would not have believed he could bear a child again, but because he trusted God whom he believed could raise the dead and call into existence things that were not, he staggered not at the promise but was strong in faith. 

Now, the righteousness credited to Abraham as a result of his belief was not credited to him alone, but also to us once we believe in Him that raised Jesus Christ from death. Ours is just to believe that for our transgressions, He died on the cross and was raised for our justification – that simple! We should not depend on anything we think we can do.

PRAYER: 

Heavenly Father, please help me to always believe in You and what You can do, come what may. Help me to always trust in Your word. Amen!