Rev. Wayne A. Robinson
Pilgrim UCC, St. Petersburg, FL.
Romans 4:1-5

“For what does scripture say? Abraham put his faith in God, and that faith was counted as righteousness.” Romans 4:3 (NE

What’s Your Count 

Many years ago, I was employed as a shoe salesman at a popular department store in downtown Chicago. Around the last week in January, there was an annual inventory. I greatly disliked inventory, because we had to count every pair of shoes in our department and on the displays throughout the store by SKU number. All employees in the shoe department were grouped by twos. Each group was assigned sections in the stockroom to count. When each group completed counting their assigned sections, we were assigned to recount another section for verification and accuracy. Prior to each recount, the question was asked of the original counters, “What’s your count?”

In our scripture lesson, Paul cites the life of Abraham as an example of the abstract thought of faith. Paul was astutely aware that absolute thought becomes absolute truth through incarnation. Paul desires his readers, then and now, to know that Abraham took God at His word. Because Abraham learned to trust God through his experiences, God “counted” him as righteousness.

As you take a spiritual inventory of your life experiences during this Lenten season, what is your count? Are you putting your faith in God, the God of your ancestors? “God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, God who has brought us thus far on our way…” Do you use your works, such as church activities, community affiliations, and cultural affirmations, to justify your standing with God? Put your faith in Him who is able! Adopt the African-American truism: “God said it. I believe it. That settles it!”

Prayer 

God of Abraham, enable us to trust You more each day through every experience, because You love us and You have faith in us. Amen.

Thought for the day 

God said. I believe it. That settles it!