Genesis 15:1-6 (NRSV)
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Chapter 15After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, "Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great."
Verse 2But Abram said, "O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" Verse 3And Abram said, "You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir." Verse 4But the word of the Lord came to him, "This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir." Verse 5He brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your descendants be." Verse 6And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.
Devotion
Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ alone. It is easy to over think today’s reading from Genesis and wonder “But what about all of those who lived before Jesus came to us in the flesh? What about those since Christ who have not heard of him?”
These questions are certainly addressed by Scripture itself. We are told that Abraham’s faith was reckoned by God as righteousness. The saving work of Jesus Christ extends back in time to cover God’s faithful people who lived before Jesus came to us in the flesh. We are commanded to go into all the world and tell others who have not heard about Jesus and his grace, so that they too might come to faith.
Always, the grace of God is more lavish and abundant than we can imagine, and God can be trusted.
Prayer
Most holy and loving God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit: Grant me courage to share the good news of Jesus with someone who desperately needs to hear it, just do we all. Thank you for clothing the dirty rags of my life with the spotless righteousness of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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