"...I can guarantee that unless you live a life that has God’s approval and do it more faithfully than the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven..."
The characteristic of a follower of Christ is not that he does good things, but that he is good in his motives, having been made good by the supernatural grace of God. The only thing that exceeds right-doing is right-being. Jesus Christ came to place within anyone who would let Him a new heredity that would have a righteousness exceeding that of the scribes and Pharisees.
The words of Jesus today implies, “If you are My follower, you must be right not only in your actions, but also in your motives.” Your motives need to be so pure that your Loving Father can see nothing to rebuke. But then who can stand in the eternal light of God and have nothing for Him to rebuke? Only the Son of God. Jesus Christ claims that through His redemption. He can place within anyone His own nature and make that person as pure and as simple as a child. The purity that God demands is impossible unless one can be remade within, and that is exactly what Jesus did for us through His redemption.
No one can make himself pure by obeying laws. By accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and saviour, you have become a new creature with a new heredity. You become righteous because of Him. You have His teachings and the Holy Spirit, who brings to your remembrance all things, to work on your motives and aspirations. Simply put, you are not righteous because of your deeds but because of what Jesus did for you through His redemption. Making a mistake or falling into sin, does not take your away your new heredity and righteousness in Christ.
Prayer: My Loving Father, I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Thank You for this priviledge. Thank You that it is not by my works that I am called righteous, but by the amazing redemption Jesus Christ got for me. May I always be conscious of my motives in all that I do. May I take out time to reflect on the things I do and aspire to be. I pray that You align my motives with Your will. May I continue to live in the truth and realization that I am Your righteousness in Christ Jesus. In Jesus Name, Amen.
One-Year Daily Bible Reading Plan - July 22 2010 - Proverbs 11-20 (OT), 2 Thessalonians 2 (NT).
God’s Love and Mine…
