QT 11/4/2024 Rom 4:7-12, Are you blessed?

Romans 4:7–12 (ESV) —

7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,

and whose sins are covered;

8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

9 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, 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.

 

NOTE: For those of us who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and his completed work on the cross and his resurrected life, we are blessed. But what does it mean? Certainly, we are blessed in that we have a future in heaven and have been given eternal life. We will not go to hell; we will not spend eternity outside of the presence of God; and we will not suffer pain. That is a blessing as much as anything is a blessing. But, we are also made a part of God's family and we share in a heavenly inheritance. We are promised new bodies that will not be susceptible to sin. We will enjoy a new creation and eternal homes. But even here on earth, in the midst of pain and struggles, in the midst of trying to share the gospel, we have a peace that passes understanding. Some, so-called believers, never experience that peace or rest, because they do not pursue a relationship with Jesus. So, are they blessed? Are they "saved?" Only God knows the true condition of their hearts. But I fear that some who have professed Jesus may have only said the words, because their lives do not show the change that comes upon a person when the Holy Spirit enters.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I going through the motions?
2. Do I truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?
3. Does my life show any difference? Is there any peace?

 

PRAYER: Father, I know in my heart that I have invited you to live in me and lead me. I have seen the changes you have made starting from the inside out. I have experienced peace and joy. You are very real and personal. I pray for others, who call themselves believers, that they might truly know you and the power of the resurrected life.