Walk in the Footsteps of Faith
Day 198: Romans 4:1-12
“and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.” - Romans 4:12 ESV
In our reading for today, Paul lays out a masterful argument for Abraham having been justified (to pronounce and treat as righteous) before he was circumcised. This would have blown the minds of the Jews reading this from Rome. How could Abraham have enjoyed this pronouncement before he had the physical sign of circumcision?
What we can see is far different from what God can see. Abraham had two significant trust moments before his circumcision at age 99 (yikes):
He left his home to follow God’s call to a destination he didn’t know. He went from rooted to nomadic (Genesis 12:1-4).
When God told him about him and Sarah having a baby, he trusted God (Genesis 15:4-6), even though he and Sarah had a relapse soon after (Genesis 16:1-4).
In both instances, statistics would have told Abraham that the odds were not in his favor. Yet he believed.
Is this how much we trust Jesus?
May we ask God today to increase our trust/faith in Him (Mark 9:24).
"God is the Father of all who place their trust in him regardless of their racial or religious background. To possess the revelation of God is of no ultimate importance apart from the walk of faith. Conduct demonstrates the reality of faith."
- Mounce, R. H. (1995). Romans (Vol. 27, p. 126)