Reflections for Lent

Romans 4:1-12 NRSV

What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor 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 reckoned to him as righteousness.” Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness. So also David speaks of the blessedness of those to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the one against whom the Lord will not reckon sin.” Is this blessedness, then, pronounced only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We say, “Faith was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness.” How then was it reckoned to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the ancestor of all who believe without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them, and likewise the ancestor of the circumcised who are not only circumcised but who also follow the example of the faith that our ancestor Abraham had before he was circumcised.

When I was 10, I started working for my grandfather’s carpet cleaning business. Some days I worked on the truck pulling hoses; other days I did chores like washing the trucks. Making $5 an hour, I earned my summer ice cream money. When I worked a certain number of hours, there was a reward that was credited to me; it was what I earned. Years after my grandfather passed away, I was given a few of his personal things. These were items I could never obtain myself, and probably have little to no value, but are some of the few items I have kept over the years. 

They were a gift to me even though I did not earn or deserve them. At the end of the third chapter of Romans, Paul explained that to have our sins paid for, we must have faith in Christ. Without that, we all will be judged for our own goodness and be found guilty. In Romans 4:1–12, Paul focuses on Abraham (Gen. 15:6; 22), to further his case about faith. He makes a point that Abraham did not earn his justification before God; God only declares people righteous based on their faith in Him. A gift is not a gift if you have to work for it. Simply put, when you work, do not work for the glory, but work for the Giver. 

Paul mentions David as well (Psalm 32:1,2), as he turns his focus to forgiveness. If we want access to the righteousness of God, we must first come to Him through the forgiveness of our sins which is made possible through Jesus. For some, this free gift of God’s goodness shown to us may seem too good to be true. This is because it is impossible for us to do it on our own. It is not something we can earn; something supernatural has to happen. God did something supernatural through the work of Jesus on the cross. 

During this Lent season, know that Jesus did the work for you on the cross. So, ask yourself, “Why am I working? Is it to earn wages, or is it for God’s purpose?” 

~ Joey Hughes~ 

Heavenly Father, give us the desire to work for the Giver, and not for the glory.