MONDAY, APRIL 4
Scripture: Romans 4:1-4

Romans 4:1-4, “What then 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 God. For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.” What is interesting about this passage is that God is declaring the difference between faith and works. In the natural, those hours become a debt of the employer. God does not work that way. We cannot earn His blessing. When you and I work a job, we earn money for the hours we work. So we have earned the money we receive by the hours we work. The question becomes, was Abraham justified by his works or was he justified by faith? That is where verses 3,4 come in, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness…” So the righteousness that he received was by faith and not by works. He did not earn the righteousness. The righteousness was a gift from God. This is important because faith versus works becomes the foundation for who we are in Christ and how we believe Him and how we function spiritually. Words become very important in this arena and so does the principle of whether we have to earn something or whether it is a promise and a gift. If it is a promise, then God’s promises are by faith and not always by works. Works are important, but it is a distinction that grows to the place where it becomes our foundation in relating to God concerning righteousness, His promises and who we are in Christ. It is something Abraham had to walk out that is very important for each of us to understand. There is a free gift offered in Scripture called righteousness. When we receive the gift of righteousness, we have a clear conscience and can interact with God relationally, without fear. That becomes the foundation for walking with the Lord in faith and doing what He calls us to do. It is also the foundation for calling into existence some of what He promises. Not only are our words important, but our understanding of what is required to walk with God without guilt and shame becomes the foundation to relate to Him and please Him by faith. Our words are very important in that process.