2026 Lent Devotions
Wednesday, February 25
Romans 4:1-5
1 What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. 5 But to one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.
“… 5 But to one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness. …”
This is the basic tenet of our faith. Rather than trusting in our own work or effort to gain God’s favor and appear righteous before God, we trust instead in God’s loving grace. God receives that faithfulness as righteousness. In other words, we are made right with God not by our actions but by our belief and trust in God’s love for us.
For many, this understanding is disturbing. After all, they ask, don’t we have to do something to earn God’s favor. That’s the way the world works – quid pro quo – and all that. Yes, a worldly understanding of God would have God reciprocate good for good. Act righteously and you are righteous. That means our relationship with God depends entirely on our actions.
That scenario doesn’t fit the God of love, however. Rather than God depending on us to establish a relationship, God loves us first. God’s initiative is based in grace. God’s love for us is the basis of our relationship with the Lord. Our response is not to earn that love by our righteous actions but to trust God’s love through faith. In other words, it all depends on God who is love.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for Your gracious and unconditional love that is unmerited and unearned yet is the source of my life and salvation. Amen.