Friday, February 23, 2018

Romans 4:3-5

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. 

Just be

Just be. That is the welcome invitation hidden in these words. Just be with me and know ... it is okay. You are ok. Perfect? Hardly. But wanted and welcome. Always.

The Holy One invites you to come close and live in heart-to-heart communion. You cannot do that if you are always wondering, “Am I good enough? Do I have to prove myself? Will I have to do something today to make up for yesterday?”

Let it go. Let it all go.

There is no need to prove yourself or earn your way into the good graces of the God who is grace and love beyond all knowing, poured out for us in Jesus Christ.

The Holy One invites us ... welcomes us ... into a true friendship where we know the divine heart and share our own hearts with God.

Frankly, I don’t like the language of righteousness and justification. It feels cold to me, legal and impersonal. But it is here, in Scripture, amid a rigorous argument about how anyone can be right with God.

And it bears good news: God has made everything right through Christ. So it’s okay. Just be.

Pr. David L. Miller