Have Faith and Be Justified

Sometimes it is hard to have faith in the weatherperson. Another weekend storm hit Iowa and it was just as they predicted. There was a definite line of the storm that resulted in different weather just miles from another location. In Ankeny, we had rain, then freezing rain, then a couple of inches of snow before the 50 mph winds hit. As John drove north 10 miles or so, he found heavier snow that had drifted across the highway creating whiteout conditions and blocked highways. As is often the case, the country experiences a different storm than hits the town.

I'm glad I'm not a weatherperson. People get very upset if they don't get predictions right and rarely praise them for doing a good job. Many have given up having faith in a weatherperson. Some people even lose their faith in God after something bad happens to them.

In Romans, Paul used an entire chapter to talk about Abraham being justified by his faith in God. He said: "Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why 'it was credited to him as righteousness'," (Romans 4:20-22 NIV).

These verses tell us a lot about life. Although, Paul uses his long sentence style again, if we break it down, we see what a great example Abraham is for us even today. Abraham never doubted God's promises. Through every challenge Abraham met, his faith was strengthened and he always gave God the glory and recognized God's power.

Paul goes on to explain even more. "The words 'it was credited to him' were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness--for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification," (Romans 4:23-25 NIV).

Justification in the Bible is defined as the act or process of being declared right with God. Isn't that what we are hoping for? What a wonderful promise we have, that if we have faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we are justified! Not by our works but by our faith.

Thank you, God, for Your gift of justification through Jesus Christ. Help us to trust in Your promise as we face each trial in our lives. Amen.