The Footsteps of Faith—Romans 4:12

“And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.” (Romans 4:12)

Growing up in the Church, I’ve heard a lot of testimonies over the years. It’s easy to celebrate the depth of God’s grace when we witness the transformation of a person steeped in addiction, sin, or recovering from abuse and trauma, or just living his or her own way far from God. However, sometimes we don’t fully celebrate the faithfulness of the many people who have followed God all of their lives—and that’s a disconnect.


Where today can you celebrate the faithfulness of someone who has encouraged your faith walk? 
 

Paul just made a marvelous statement that Abraham is the father of everyone who is uncircumcised (or living outside of the promise God made to Abraham and the Jewish nation) but who still have the faith of Abraham. He explained that they, too, are credited with righteousness (Rom. 4:11).

Then he turns a sharp corner to remember the faithfulness of the Jews living according to the very same faith as their father Abraham. Paul is reminding us that they, too, are children of Abraham and heirs to the promise of a right-standing with God by faith.

We must remember that this was part of Jesus’s plan. He brought both the faithful Jews and the faraway Gentiles together and reconciled them back to God (Eph. 2:14, 16). In this way, both have access to the Father (Eph. 2:18), and now all of us walk in the footsteps of faith that Abraham had in God.

Where today can you celebrate the faithfulness of someone who has encouraged your faith walk?

Take a moment to send them a note of gratitude.

Original article published July 4, 2009.

 

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Juli Camarin

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