In this letter to the Roman church, Paul lays out his theological understanding of God through the lens of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. He is writing to those who have been raised on the stories of Jewish tradition – of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – and giving them a new facet of God to consider. It was God who strengthened and enlivened Abraham’s faith, which then was expressed in a life of righteousness and trust.
In the same way, God strengthens and enlivens our faith, which becomes evident in the way we live, love, and imitate Christ. This faith assures us of God’s promise for mercy, belonging, and abundant relationship with the One who breathed us into being, the One who redeems us, and the One who sustains us. Like Abraham, we can “hope against hope” that this promise will become a reality.
What would the fulfillment of that promise look like? What do you “hope against hope” happens in your life, in the church, and in the world? What effect does your faith have on your life? In what ways is your faith evident in the way you think, speak, and react to the world around you?
Offer a prayer of confession for the times your words and actions have not been a reflection of the faith entrusted to you and find assurance in God’s promise of mercy.