You call yourself...?

"For what saith the Scripture?  Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness."
Romans 4:3

Have you ever had someone angrily turn to you and say, "And you call yourself a christian"?  Other people, especially non-christians, seem to know how a christian should behave.  And it is true that we have a responsibility to control our anger and our tongue, to avoid sinful places, to treat everyone fairly.  But none of that makes us a christian, and that is what people often are mis-led by.  This verse tells us Abraham "believed" God, and "it" - that belief - was counted unto him for righteousness.  So it was his "belief" or his faith that saved him, not what he did or didn't do.  How grateful I am that my salvation rests securely in the "grace" of God, not in me.  So as I live my life, I can serve Him better knowing that all He asks of me is my best.  And when I fail, He loves me still.

My prayer for today:  Father, thank You for Your saving and keeping power.  May knowledge of Your love spur me to ever greater service.