Can’t Quarantine the Gospel: Fact Filled but Faithful

Day 26 of our series by Laly Matos. Laly helps us to understand having faith even in light of sometimes bleak facts. Any of the Devotionals can be read as a stand alone quiet time(s). You can see more devotionals here


Fact-filled but Faithful

Laly Matos

Read Romans 4

Righteousness by Faith

During the quarantine, the campus girls and I have been making our way through the book of Romans. In a recent quiet time, the Holy Spirit interrupted me with something simple but also profound about Abraham’s faith.

Romans 4 says Abraham was counted or recognized by God as righteous because of his faith (V3). There was nothing Abraham did that gave him that honor, but in fact his total reliance, dependence and trust in Him is what the Lord deemed virtuous.

I don’t know about you but I am guilty of trying to earn everything! I want to say I did it on my own. No hand outs. I want to prove myself, but what pleases God is the complete opposite. He is a relational God and he wants us to recognize his place in our lives. The truth be told, he is everything in our lives. And our faith in him demonstrates that to him. OUR faith can also be credited as righteousness (V23-24).

John 6:28-29 (AMP)

28 Then they asked Him, “What are we to do, so that we may habitually be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered, This is the work of God: that you believe [adhere to, trust in, rely on, and have faith] in the One whom He has sent.”

Q: Do you rely on your “performance” to be counted as righteous or your faith?
Q: How is your faith belief [trust & reliance] on what Jesus did for you right now?

Against all odds (V18)

Abraham wasn’t naive, he knew his chances were slim to none. He knew the FACTS, his age and Sarah’s condition, but he did not waver in his FAITH that God could come through on his promise (V19-20). We should also not try to disillusion ourselves. We need to be fully informed but fully believe in God’s power to change our situation. Why? Because your faith will be strengthened, God will be glorified, you’ll be deemed righteous! (V20)

Q: What are the facts you are facing right now that is making it hard for you to believe?
Q: What is a promise of God you can anchor yourself to like Abraham did?

The quarantine has turned our world upside down. These are scary and uncertain times. We would have never known that a virus would be the world’s greatest threat causing us to take shelter in our homes. These are the facts, where is your faith?

The scripture says Abraham was “fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised” (V21). We also need to have faith that is fully persuaded.

In the Greek, “fully persuaded” = plērophoreō

– to fill one with any thought, conviction, or inclination. To make one certain, to persuade, to fully convince or assure

Action steps:

  1. Identify a situation that is hurting your faith. What are the facts?
  2. Pick one promise in the Bible that you can hold onto. Here is a list.
  3. Reflect on how God has brought you through something in the past.
    • make a list of answered prayers, miracles and accounts in the Bible that remind you of His power.

Prayer prompt: Thank God for what he has done and continues to do. Thank him for the prayers answered, but not yet seen. Ask him to give you faith like Abraham.


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