Justified, Adopted, Beloved

"Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness."

It was late on Monday night as I sat shivering on my cold bed next to the drafty window and read my next scheduled chapter of Romans. I wasn't feeling very good about myself. I'd dragged home from work and plopped in front of my computer for at least three hours that evening - again. I was tired of coming before God every evening with a long shameful list of failures, selfish choices, shirked duties, and ignored witnessing opportunities. I was fed up with beginning every night's prayer with "Lord, I'm sorry ..."

But I started that evening's prayer the same way. "Lord, I'm sorry ..." And then, feeling weary and discouraged, I opened my Bible.

These verses just struck me like lightning:

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
~ Romans 4:3-5

And these:

Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
~ Romans 4:23-25

I was stunned. The only thing Abraham did that qualified him to be called "righteous" was to believe that God's word was true. He lied, he feared, he doubted, he rushed God's timing and had an unpromised son - I'm sure there were many times he came to God full of remorse and regret. Yet God Himself called Abraham His friend! Think of the honor of that! I would give anything for God to call me His friend in front of other people! What did Abraham do to win God's love and friendship? Absolutely nothing. He simply believed that when God promised to be with him, He would. It was as simple as that.

And even better - just to make sure I got the message, Paul added down below, "This wasn't just good news for Abraham. It's for you, too. If you believe that Jesus died to be punished in your place and that God raised Him from the dead, then you are considered perfectly righteous, because you are in Him."

I'm justified! I am just-as-if-I'd-never-sinned! All I had to do was believe that the Lord really meant it when He died for me - which I did, and which I still do, and which I always will. That's all I need to do!

It's such a stunningly counterintuitive truth, but it shouldn't be. Remember that the Bible says we as Christians are adopted into God's family. Does an adopted child have to work to earn his place in his new family? Does he have to be always on his best behavior and go over and above everything that his siblings do in order to be accepted by his new parents?

Of course not! A couple who adopts a child has seen him at his weakest and most unloved, maybe even his most unlovable; and yet they still love him so much that they make the sacrifices to bring him into their family. All the child has to do is believe it when they tell him they love him and want him to be part of their family. Even if he struggles to learn the family rules, or doesn't always obey, his parents still love him just the same and gently nurture him and teach him how to be godly.

From here

Why do I complicate my relationship with my heavenly Father so much, when He feels the same way about me? He saw me when I was helpless and unloveable, and yet He loved me so much that He sent His own Son to die in my place so that I could be rescued from my punishment. I saw His love extended to me, I heard Him invite me to be His daughter and part of His family, and I accepted that offer. I am His now. That's all I need to know!

Of course I need to obey His Word and the Spirit's leading - just as I obey my earthly parents. But I should obey God for the same reason I obey them: because I love Him and want to please Him. Why do I continue to believe that He sits up in heaven and frowns down at my failures and shortcomings? Would my earthly parents do that? Of course not! And the Lord is even more patient and loving than my earthly parents are!

Tomorrow, I resolve, with the Lord's help and presence, to get up in the morning and realize that I don't have to do anything to earn God's love. I have believed Him and accepted His salvation, and I am His adopted daughter. I will serve Him in love, not in fear. I'm not going to browbeat myself for struggling in certain areas, but rather turn to my Father and ask Him to help me. And He will:

Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
~ Matthew 7:9-11

God, teach me to serve You with a spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind, not with a spirit of fear!

Love,
Vicki