Written by Valerie McDonald Roberts, chief urban affairs officer in the Office of Mayor William Peduto (Pittsburgh) and brought to you by the Metro-Urban Institute at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Scripture

Romans 4:13-25

13 For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.

16 For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”) — in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18 Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become “the father of many nations,” according to what was said, “So numerous shall your descendants be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. 20 No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 Therefore his faith “was reckoned to him as righteousness.” 23 Now the words, “it was reckoned to him,” were written not for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.

Devotional

In the 70s, I purchased a sweatshirt with the Christian fish symbol, an ichthys, swimming against a wave of a school of many large ominous fish (the world), referencing Romans 12:2. Though this sweatshirt long ago entered “rag heaven”, this image remains a reminder that though we are not of this world, we are fully in it, and should rely on God not to be transformed to the world nor consumed by it.  As Abraham believed against all hope, we too are to be that ichthys, to swim with unwavering faith and strength in God against all odds, purposefully helping those in need along the way. The ichthys didn’t swim with self-piety and judgment, but seemed to mingle love and acceptance with courage and principle. Abraham fully checked his ego at the door; then God blessed him. I bet that ichthys was swimming toward blessings too, but likewise had to first dump the weight of ego at his/her “door”.

Prayer 

Lord, you are the source of my strength and the strength of my life. Help me to serve with humility and effectiveness, giving you the praise and honor. Amen.

Written by Valerie McDonald Roberts, chief urban affairs officer in the Office of Mayor William Peduto (Pittsburgh) and brought to you by the Metro-Urban Institute at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Scripture

Romans 4:13-25

13 For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.

16 For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”) — in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18 Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become “the father of many nations,” according to what was said, “So numerous shall your descendants be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. 20 No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 Therefore his faith “was reckoned to him as righteousness.” 23 Now the words, “it was reckoned to him,” were written not for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.

Devotional

In the 70s, I purchased a sweatshirt with the Christian fish symbol, an ichthys, swimming against a wave of a school of many large ominous fish (the world), referencing Romans 12:2. Though this sweatshirt long ago entered “rag heaven”, this image remains a reminder that though we are not of this world, we are fully in it, and should rely on God not to be transformed to the world nor consumed by it.  As Abraham believed against all hope, we too are to be that ichthys, to swim with unwavering faith and strength in God against all odds, purposefully helping those in need along the way. The ichthys didn’t swim with self-piety and judgment, but seemed to mingle love and acceptance with courage and principle. Abraham fully checked his ego at the door; then God blessed him. I bet that ichthys was swimming toward blessings too, but likewise had to first dump the weight of ego at his/her “door”.

Prayer 

Lord, you are the source of my strength and the strength of my life. Help me to serve with humility and effectiveness, giving you the praise and honor. Amen.