Self-
Righteousness
“For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived
by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath
prepared for him that waiteth for him. Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and
worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art
wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. But
we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;
and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us
away.”
(Isaiah 64:4-6)
Today’s
Morsel: If God were to ask you to judge
where you stand righteously, what would you use as a measuring stick? I
am afraid that a lot of folks try to develop and determine their own
righteousness. Many of them will snub their nose at the woman who is not
dressed like them, or the man who is not as smart. Often, when I see someone
standing along the road with a sign asking for help, or someone pushing a cart
down the street with what looks like their only belongings, I have to ask
myself if they are angels being sent to see how I will act toward
them. “Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers:
for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember them that are in
bonds, as bound with them; and them
which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body” Paul said (Hebrews 13:1-3) How many times have people walked into our
churches and we say nothing to them, or do
not give them a hug because they do not look like
us? What is your measuring stick for your righteousness? The Lord
said through the prophet that all of our righteousness is as filthy rags.
If that be the case, then I cannot judge another based on my standard of what
righteousness is. I must base it on what Jesus says it is, and use the measuring stick that He gives me to use. And His
measuring stick is called the word of God.
Sing: More to be desired
are they than gold, much find gold; sweeter also than the honey, and the
honeycomb.
Thought For Today:
“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some
that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and
comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” (2 Corinthians 10:12)
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