Today’s devotion is a special devotion based on a Gold Mine devotion a/k/a “Letter to Harry” that I wrote in 1992. I include this special devotion today, because of the importance of the simple Christian truth: Our faith is credited to us as righteousness.
“What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 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 credited to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
“BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN,
AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.
“BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.”
…
In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.” Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.” Romans 4:1-8 and 18-25.
And, I want to also introduce these Gold Mines to the readers. As I state in the Introduction to Gold Mining, “Let us mine for gold in God’s Word. Here are 52 Gold Mines which are more personal than the daily devotions. Each Gold Mine is based on a letter that I wrote to my best friend, Harry Sieplinga, mostly during the early 1990’s, about my meditations on God’s Word and my attempts to apply it to my struggles in life during that time.“
You can access all of the Gold Mine devotions in the Headnote a/k/a Page at the top of my web site. Here is a direct link –
GOLD MINE 2: ROMANS 4:5
FAITH IS RECKONED AS RIGHTEOUSNESS
August 19, 1992
Harry:
Thank you so much for the photograph of my first home on frozen Lake Michigan taken about 1975.
We certainly had a lot of adventures at this home and on Lake Michigan. I can remember sailing with you on our catamaran, walking on ice, exploring ice caves, surfing with our bodies in big waves, and exploring Whitey’s woods.
I also had times alone when I would just sit at home in my living room and look out over Lake Michigan lake and think about God.
The photo means a lot to me and reminds me of God’s blessings on my life.
Thanks also for the telephone conference today in which I shared my struggle dealing with financial difficulties.
The financial difficulties are not so difficult in themselves, but the fear, uncertainty, and anxiety are difficult.
God has taken care of me in the past. It is just so difficult to trust Him in the future. I would rather trust myself and grab the bull by the horns. However, the Lord is not leading me to deal with my financial difficulties in this way.
He constantly and continually, without exception, tells me to trust Him. He constantly and continually reassures me by His promises.
But I want Him to do the one big miracles and crush my financial difficulties in one blow. He wants to fake me out every time and help me in ways I do not recognize or understand. It seems God always helps me at the last second.
He wants me to trust Him every day, every moment. I want to trust Him for the big miracle and then trust my bank account. He wants me to trust Him 100% and to trust myself 0%. I want to trust Him 50% and to trust myself 50%.
It should not be that tough to trust Him when I can remember His blessings on me in the past. Back around 1989, I listed my blessings. I updated it by adding Joshua on my list on 4/6/90. All of my blessings are from God, not through my own work. Even my sole practice law office is a blessing. If I had my way, I would have worked as an associate for a large firm. Yet, God has given me the freedom of working for myself which I have grown to appreciate.
I remember back when I started Harvard College in 1971 and thought: “What do I want to do with my life?” I knew I could make it as a doctor and have a comfortable life, simply following my father’s footsteps. But I wanted to follow my passion as to what I thought was most important.
To me, what was most important was helping people to do what is right. Thus, I became interested in philosophy and government and law and focused on the question: “How do we do what is right?”
For over 20 years, I have studied that question, trying to find an answer.
Even after graduation from Harvard in 1975, I was driven to seek an answer, and found it difficult to concentrate on getting a job. I “floundered” and was unemployed, studying the Bible, from June 1975 to December 1976. God led me each day to study the Bible, even when I thought I should concentrate on finding a job.
God led me into law which was not unusual or inconsistent with my study, and I went to law school from January 1977 to December 1979.
Again in January 1980 to May 1980, I “floundered” and was unemployed and studied the Bible. I still focused on the question “How do we do what is right?”. Again, God led me to study the Bible each day.
Now, in 1992, I am convinced that I have an answer. We do what is right simply by believing God. Romans chapter 4 very clearly states that righteousness comes from faith, not works. “But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness,” Romans 4:5.
That we do what is right by simply believing God is so simple, but I am still trying to fully believe it and apply it to my life.
I do experience that my work is easy, whether it is the practice of law or serving the Lord in stewardship, missions, or some other service, when I trust God. God does His work in me. “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13.
I was amazed how easy it was being Chairman of Stewardship at Pasadena Community United Methodist Church when God worked in me.
In the practice of law, problems that I fear never come to being and the other problems melt away. It even becomes fun to handle them.
I just simply have to believe God and trust God to work in me.
God has taken care of me month by month, week by week, day by day, for over 38 years and I can trust Him to continue for the next day, week, month, even eternity. Just as we are delighted to see our sons play with joy without worry or anxiety, God is delighted to see His children play with joy without any worry or anxiety.
I can trust God who gives us the Bible filled with wonderful promises and stories of love. God has proven Himself faithful without even one exception.
