May 16, 2012
| From Pastor Roger - How's your credit score? Your credit score is crucial to your existence in modern American society. It only takes one late payment to adversely affect your credit score. Your credit card interest rates can go up if you are late with one utility payment, even if you make timely payments on the cards. It's not a very forgiving world, this world of credit around which so much of our society revolves. Did you know there are 29 instances of some form of the word 'credit' in the New International Version of the Bible? Five refer directly to monetary debts (Deut. 15:2, 2 Kings 4:1, Ps. 109:11, Isa. 24:2, Hab. 2:7). Three obliquely refer to financial debts (Lev. 7:18, 1 Sam. 18:8, Esther 2:22). Two relate to the consequences of disobedience (Isa. 50:1, Eze. 18:20) The remaining 19 (list below) proclaim the good news that God has redeemed our debt to sin. Ten are found in Romans 4. We often talk about Abraham's faith and review the list of his actions. For the most part, Abraham's life is a study of good deeds, faith and obedience. Paul puts Abraham's good works in a different light. He starts off saying Abraham would have something to brag about if he was justified by his works, but not before God. Rom. 4:3 and again in Gal. 3:6, Paul harks back to Gen. 15:6: "Abram believed the 0Lord, and he (God) credited it to him (Abraham) as righteousness." "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed…" Rom. 4:18. Do you believe only when things are going well?
Or do you believe 'against all hope'?
Abraham 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 promised. This is why 'it was credited to him as righteousness.'" Rom. 4:20-23. And here's the best part: "The words 'it was credited to him' were not written 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."Romans 4:23,24 How's your credit score in the Bank of Heaven? God is willing and waiting, wanting to cover your overdrafts. He only asks you to believe. And when you mess up, as you surely will, God doesn't raise the stakes —no matter how many times you slip. It's the best credit score you'll ever have. "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21 NIV God's credit references: | What's happening >Gardening Class tomorrow >Future events: THIS WEEK Thursday, May 17 Friday, May 18 NEXT WEEK Monday, May 21
Tuesday, May 22 Wednesday, May 23 Friday, May 25 |
