Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.
Lord, open my ears to hear what you have to say to me; open my heart to love your word, and open my mind to understand your truth.
In Romans 4 Paul continues his attack on the idea that it's by 'works of the Law' that people are made right with God. That can't be true, he says, because Abraham was accepted by God as 'righteous' before he was circumcised, on the basis of his belief. So, he says, 'Abraham is the spiritual father of all who believe in God and are accepted as righteous by him, even though they are not circumcised' (verse 11). The idea that Abraham was the spiritual father of believing Gentiles as well as Jews was truly radical.
Paul's argument, though, makes us think harder about what he means by 'belief'. It's clearly not just an intellectual assent to his existence, which is how we tend to think of 'believing in God' today. Abraham 'believed and hoped', Paul says (verse 18); his belief was focused on God's promise that even as an old couple, he and Sarah would have children. In Hebrews 11.1, faith is defined as 'to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see'. The author (not Paul) tells of some great Old Testament believers, saying they were 'foreigners and refugees on earth'; 'it was a better country they longed for, a heavenly country' (11.13,16).
So perhaps 'believing God' means something like: trusting him, walking with him day by day, and letting our lives be shaped not by what we want or what other people desire or think is right, but by his will and commands.
God, help me to believe in you not just with my mind, but with my heart and soul and will. Help me to trust you and follow you in all things.
This reflection was written by Mark Woods, Bible Society's Editor
Read the Bible 
Processing...