Romans 3:3-4 (The Message)

"Do you think their faithlessness cancels out God’s faithfulness? Not on your life! Depend on it: God keeps his word even when the whole world is lying through its teeth."

Reflection by Anthony B. Robinson

What do you do when it seems as if there is deception and deceit all around you, when "the whole world is lying through its teeth?" What do you do when the place you work or worship feels more like a nest of vipers than the company of the committed?  What do you do when the state house where laws are made, or the courthouse where they are enforced, seems as loaded as the dice in a back alley game?

Is it "game over?"

Writing to the Romans, Paul was trying to figure out what to say about his own family of faith, Judaism, which had failed in so many ways. Had God called, for them, "game over"? No way and not on your life.

Why not? Because of who God, this God, is. Human infidelity and failure do not cancel out God’s faithfulness.

That’s really good news. It means that when the whole world looks terribly discouraging, and even when we have failed ourselves and our God miserably and when it looks like we don’t have a prayer, there is hope because God is God and God is faithful. Two chapters later Paul puts it this way, "While we still were sinners, Christ died for us."

In the African-American church they have a phrase for it, "God makes a way out of no way." Praise God!

In a world that at least sometimes is nasty and harsh, this is the really good news. "God keeps God's word even when the whole world is lying through its teeth." God is faithful. Trust this and live this day boldly.

Prayer

When despair stalks my life, hunt me down God and capture me anew with your grace and truth, your majesty and mercy. Amen.

About the Author Anthony B. Robinson, a United Church of Christ minister, is a speaker, teacher and writer. His newest book is Stewardship for Vital Congregations, published by The Pilgrim Press. Read his weekly reflections on the current lectionary texts at www.anthonybrobinson.com/ by clicking on Weekly Reading.

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