CALLED BY GRACE, LIVING WITH FAITH

SCRIPTURE READINGS
GENESIS 12:1-9
ROMANS 4:13-25
MATTHEW 9:9-13, 18-26

REFLECTION

The journey of the Christian life is beautifully summed up in the words of our theme: “CALLED BY GRACE, LIVING WITH FAITH”. To understand this deeply, we must first look at what these powerful words mean. Grace is the unearned, undeserved favour of God. It is God reaching down to us when we have done nothing to merit His love. Faith, on the other hand, is our active response to that grace. It is a complete, unwavering trust in God’s character and His promises, even when we cannot see the final outcome. The central lesson linking our Scripture readings to this theme is simple yet profound: God initiates a relationship with us purely out of His grace, and our only right response is to walk forward in absolute faith.

The historical setting of our Scripture readings spans across different eras, yet each text highlights this identical truth. In the Old Testament narrative of Genesis 12:1-9, we meet Abram (later named Abraham) living in Haran, a land steeped in the worship of many gods. Out of nowhere, the one true God speaks to him, initiating a covenant that would change history. Centuries later, the Apostle Paul writes his letter to the Romans, specifically in Romans 4:13-25, using Abraham’s ancient story to explain how the early Church—made up of both Jews and Gentiles—carries forward this legacy of belief. Finally, in Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26, we find Jesus walking the dusty roads of Galilee, directly extending this divine invitation to the outcasts of society and displaying miraculous power to those who dare to trust Him.

The Initiative of Divine Grace

Our journey with God always begins with His voice, not our merit. In Genesis 12:1, we read: “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.’” Abram did not seek God out; God graciously chose him. God made immense promises to make him a great nation and to bless him, despite Abram having no children and no social standing in the land of Canaan.

We see this same unmerited favour vividly displayed in the New Testament when Jesus calls His disciples. In Matthew 9:9, the text states: “As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me,’ he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.” In first-century Judea, tax collectors were despised as traitors and extortioners. Yet, Jesus did not wait for Matthew to clean up his life before calling him.

When the religious leaders complained about Jesus eating with such people, His response perfectly defined grace: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the ill. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:12-13).

In our modern lives, this reminds us that God does not call us because we are perfect, wealthy, or highly religious. A modern-day example might be a person trapped in a cycle of bad choices or destructive habits, feeling completely cut off from God. Yet, through a quiet whisper in their heart, a sermon, or the kindness of a friend, they feel an unmistakable pull to change. That inner tug is the grace of God calling them exactly where they are.

The Walk of Continuous Faith

While grace is the starting point, faith is the vehicle that moves us forward. True faith requires action and obedience, even when the future looks completely uncertain. When Abram was called, he did not demand a map or a detailed plan from God. Genesis 12:4 tells us: “So Abram went, as the Lord had told him”. He packed up his entire life at seventy-five years of age and walked into the unknown simply because he trusted the One who spoke to him.

The Apostle Paul details the inner workings of this kind of belief in Romans 4:20-21, writing that Abraham “did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” Abraham’s faith was not a vague feeling; it was a firm conviction that God is entirely reliable.

We see this active, desperate faith again in the stories of the hurting people who approached Jesus. Consider the synagogue leader whose daughter had just died, or the woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve long years. In Matthew 9:21, the woman thought to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Her faith drove her through a pressing crowd to reach out to Jesus. Jesus turned, saw her, and said, “Take heart, daughter, your faith has healed you.” (Matthew 9:22).

Living with faith today means trusting God when our circumstances seem utterly hopeless. For instance, when a family faces a sudden financial crisis or a devastating medical diagnosis, human instinct tells them to panic or despair. Living with faith means choosing to pray, choosing to trust God’s goodness, and taking practical steps forward each day, confident that God is still in control.

The Promise Realised Through Faith

A vital truth we must grasp is that the blessings of God cannot be earned through human effort or legalistic rules. They are received entirely through faith. Paul heavily emphasises this in Romans 4:13: “It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.”

If our relationship with God depended on our ability to keep every rule perfectly, we would all fail. Instead, God credits our faith as righteousness. Abraham was an old man, and his wife Sarah was well past the age of childbearing—biologically, it was impossible for them to have a son. Yet, Romans 4:18 notes that “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed”. Because he believed, God fulfilled His word, and from that dead end, a vibrant nation was born.

The same pattern occurs when Jesus raises the dead girl in Matthew’s Gospel. To the onlookers, the situation was finished, and they laughed at Jesus when He said the girl was only asleep. But when Jesus took her by the hand, “the girl got up” (Matthew 9:25). Faith looks past the apparent finality of human situations and relies on the resurrection power of God.

Conclusion

In summary, the Scriptures teach us that our spiritual journey is bookended by these two great pillars. We are called entirely by the grace of God—whether we are an ordinary nomad like Abram, a despised outcast like Matthew, or a broken person seeking healing in a crowd. We do not earn this call. However, once we are called, we are meant to live out our days with active, obedient faith, trusting in the promises of God against all human odds.

Therefore, let us hear the call to action today. Do not look at your past mistakes and assume you are unqualified for God’s love; Matthew’s tax booth reminds us that Jesus seeks out the imperfect. Simultaneously, do not let fear keep you static. If God is prompting you to take a step of obedience—to forgive someone, to change your career path, or to stand up for truth—do so with courage. Leave behind the safety of your own “Haran” and step out boldly into what God has prepared for you.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your wonderful grace that found us when we were lost and called us into fellowship with You. We confess that we often let fear, doubt, and our circumstances blind us to Your promises. Lord, increase our faith. Give us the courage of Abraham to step out into the unknown when You speak. Give us the bold determination of the woman who reached out to touch Your garment. May our daily lives be a true reflection of Your grace, as we choose to walk by faith and not by sight. In the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.