“Justified By Faith!”

“Justified By Faith!”(Rom. 4:6-12).
Back in the days when we obtained our FSL certificates, it became the end of formal education for some of us. Our parents did not have the wherewithal to enable us enter college.
The best choice for such unfortunate ones like us was to learn a trade. That’s why even today I am priud to say “I am a carpenter.” By the way, “My Boss is a Jewish carpenter!”
Back then I often told my peers – of us the unfortunate ones – that I know for certain that I am not where I belong. I remember how one friend almost died of laughter because I told him I am not where I belong. He said I was a daydreamer.
Of course, for us then a daydreamer was among the fools who build their castles in the air. But in later days I stumbled on the knowledge that one has to fear and/or respect those who dream during the day because their dreams are real and they easily act on it.
But then, dreams come true through faith. It is not the dream that takes you to the place of realization; it is the faith that you have in the source of the dream. Faith and belief makes all things possible!
The good thing is that the source of our faith and belief, who is also the source of our being does not expect perfection and qualifications from us before dispensing his grace on us. He takes us in imperfection so as to make us perfect. He takes us without qualifications so as to qualify us. He takes us broken, rejected and full of sin, to forgive us and give us full salvation.
O yes, there is blessedness to those whom God credits righteousness apart from works. His word says, “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”
My friend, God in Christ takes as we are not on the basis of what we have become. But he takes us as we are to make us what he wants us to be.
His mercy and grace finds us at the place of our faith and belief in his Son. Thereafter we must continue to “also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before…”
Weekend prayer: Thank you Lord for accepting us on the basis of your love, show us the route of penance to take. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.