We’ve all done it
Even though we can’t do it
The flesh trying to pay God,
Trying to impress God:
Helping your neighbor
Learning His precepts
Praying a certain amount
Whatever it is, if it is done in the flesh, it amounts to nothing
In fact, it can be an insult to Jesus
and what was accomplished on the cross
Being well-versed in doctrine
Being a good person
Doing good for others
Anything that is done in our efforts of trying to earn our way,
our keep with God or trying to please God with our flesh
Anything that is done apart from God,
to try to earn brownie points is futile
The flesh profits nothing, the spirit gives life
It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing:
the words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life. John 6:63
It can be difficult to grasp because Jesus teaches us to be perfect,
but that means to be perfect in Him, not in our own efforts
We know we are to pray, to seek Him, to carry our cross
If we are doing any of those things for selfish gain,
we can rest assured that it will be tossed in the fire
I tell you, they have their reward
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them:
otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 6:1
Here are just a few of the lies people tell themselves:
I’m a good person
I don’t judge others
I give much toward the work of God
I help others
I am a good father, a good mother
I am honest
These are all good and noble traits,
but none of those will help us get into heaven
Not every one that saith unto me,
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day,
Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?
and in thy name have cast out devils?
and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them,
I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:21-23
So then, how do we impress God?
By humbling ourselves before Him and letting Him direct our lives
By fearing Him and living for Him
Not just doing what we think we should, but also by following Him,
by obeying Him and doing His commandments
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. John 15:14
So let go of your self-righteousness
Give it up
It amounts to nothing
Don’t try to earn your salvation
Realize that Salvation is a gift
Our response to that gift is to respond to His call on each of our lives
and always exalt Him in our hearts and keep Him as God
If we try to mix things up with what we think we should do,
in our ow
we have already failed
Get to know Him intimately
Absorb His word in Spirit and in Truth
Listen to His leading
Go before His throne to make sure you are on the right track
And if you seek Him, you will find Him in His fulness and His grace
and you will be pleasing in His sight
Scriptural References:
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 5:48
For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.
The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.
And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
1 Peter 1:24-25
Not by works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Titus 3:5-6