If we cannot claim to live sinless lives, then the only thing that can keep us from despairing before a Holy God is that we have an Advocate in heaven and He pleads our case not on the basis of our perfection but of His propitiation.
– John Piper.
Are you like me that thought my good works are enough to earn a place in heaven? Some of us might be those who answer, without a single doubt, that they are good persons. No need to be defensive. Moreover, there is no need to rationalize the whys on these scenarios. Everyone is guilty of claiming they are good persons.
Bible Reading
Today’s devotional reading is from the Gospel according to Proverbs 20:9. Please, read our recent devotional from the Book of John 5:41: How To Please God?
Professing as a good person
King Solomon, in his writings, challenges his readers to reflect on who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? For he knew that no one is capable of this. A related verse can be found in Job, when he said, who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one (Job 14:4).
These verses are among the many verses that show how man is sinful and not even a tiny bit close to what a good person is in God’s eyes. We have to be mindful of our standards on how to be a good person. You have to base it not on this world but the Words of God.
Are you a good person?
Reflect on the above question. Now, base on your reflection, whether you say you are a good person or not, parallel it to the Ten Commandments. Do not try to rationalize, just compare the two. It is written, for whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all (James 2:10). Therefore, if you broke one, you broke all.
The Ten Commandments are like a mirror for us. Additionally, these commandments are God’s criteria for what a good person looks like. Do not despair, for through Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven and will be clothed in His righteousness before God. But first, we have to genuinely repent from our sins and live our lives in obedience to the Father.
Reflection
This is the time for your journaling. Reflect on these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit to test your faith and your walk with Christ.
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? — 2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV.
- Do you consider yourself a good person? Take the quiz.
- Where do you base your standards on how to be good?
- What is the result of your reflection on how you see yourself and the Ten Commandments?
- Do you still think you are a good person?
- How do you tell others about the goodness of Christ?
- Have you accepted Jesus Christ in your life? Accept Jesus Now.
Related Posts
- Righteous Acts
- Why Is It So Easy To Judge?
- How Do We, As Church, Become Divided?
- Big and small in the Kingdom of Heaven
- When You Understand The Law, Rejoice!
Prayer
Dear God, all my life I have been running from You and pretending that I was good enough to get to heaven and that there was no need for me to worry about sin because there are so many people who are worse sinners than me. And yet, I realize that I am as much a sinner as every other person, and as much in need of a Saviour as every man or woman that has ever been born. I realize that all sin is equally bad in Your eyes and the punishment for sin is spiritual death and separation from You for all eternity.
Lord, I humbly kneel before You and confess my pride and foolishness, I admit I am a sinner in thought, word and deed and in desperate need of the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, as my Saviour. Father, I confess that it is only through the blood of the Lord Jesus that my sins can be forgiven, for now, I believe and know that Jesus Christ died to pay the price for my sins, to forgive me of my sins, to break the power of sin in my life and to clothe me in His righteousness. Thank You, Father, for this gift of grace, and thank You for pursuing me when I was running from you in my pride.
Thank You in Jesus’ name, Amen.
(from Knowing-Jesus.com)
