Paul speaks to the Galatians about Abraham today. He is the biological father and spiritual father of the Jewish people. For those us that are disciples of Christ, Abraham remains our spiritual father in the faith. This statement by Paul is supported by Jesus, as in Matthew Gospel, by seeing Zacchaeus, a former tax collector, make a confession and an act of faith, as he declared Zacchaeus to be a true descendent of Abraham. With Abraham as a great example of faith, Paul sees all of those who have a faith in God in a similar way to the faith of Abraham as having the same blessings from God that Abraham had. It is faith, not observance to external laws, that bring about this blessing. Paul emphasizes that the essence of our discipleship is our faith in the Way of Christ, of it as the source of our new life. The psalmist states today that the Lord remembers his covenant forever. Paul’s trust and confidence in faith, in our justification in faith, shows his belief in the Lord’s eternal covenant for us. There are times in our life when life seems overwhelming, doesn’t it, when we have to walk by faith with one step in front of another. I remember that when I had hit rock bottom as a missionary, going from one bout of sickness to another, having one crisis or another, I took comfort in my faith in God, that no matter what would happen, no matter what challenge or crisis would hit me, God will be there with me, that I have faith that he will see me through. Let us continue to walk by faith and to take comfort in the blessings we have from God.
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