Verse of the Day - Philippians 3:9

I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law: rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. ~ Philippians 3:9 (NLT)

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Do you know someone who is a stickler for the law, who never seems to break the rules, who makes sure that they always stay within guidelines? Maybe you do. Maybe that's you.

Is there anything wrong with doing right? Of course not! It's very clear in God's word that He calls us to honorable and holy living. But our motive for "walking the line" is a spiritual issue, because many people believe that their good efforts, good works, and honest living are what make them acceptable to God, what earns them righteousness in God's eyes.

Wrong.

Paul, the apostle, had a lot going for him. He was in the upper echelon of the religious community and truly passionate about his job as a Jewish Pharisee. He devoted himself completely to the law, giving it everything he had...

I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. ~ Philippians 3:5-6 (NLT)

Anyone in the Jewish community would look at Paul and think He's in with God, for sure! Look at how righteous he is! Gee, I wish I could be like him...

Paul really thought he "had it goin' on" with God. He played by the book, and gave 110% in serving the Almighty. How could God not be pleased with him, huh? And isn't that how many people think and feel today?

Works make sense to people...faith makes no sense. We want to earn what we get in this life...gifts are hard, if not impossible, to receive because we somehow feel the need to pay, or repay, for it. Charity is for the weak...the strong work for what they get. But God says You have no idea how weak you really are. This law you try to keep? It can't save you, and it was never meant to. It was meant to show you your need for salvation. And I give that gift of salvation to you in my Son, Jesus Christ, by faith. Yeah, I know it sounds crazy, but that is My way. Faith, not works.

Without faith, it is impossible to please God... ~ Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

What I love about Paul's attitude is that, after Jesus confronted Paul with Himself on that road to Damascus and Paul turned to faith in Jesus, he completely disregarded all the hard work and trophies that he'd accumulated in the religious realm. Everything he'd done in his own effort to attain righteousness was considered worthless trash to him. What he chose to prize and value was Christ, and His righteousness. Alone. Paul didn't add any of his works to a righteousness that comes by faith in Jesus. Paul recognized that his heritage and his works, although valiant and noteworthy in earthly eyes, were insufficient for true righteousness and salvation. Who and what Jesus did was completely sufficient.

Do we prize our attention to the law, to our faithfulness to God's ways, somehow giving it weight on the scales of righteousness? If so, we are sadly misled, and are not giving Jesus the full credit He is due for the work on the cross.

For by His loving-favor you have been saved from the punishment of sin through faith. It is not by anything you have done. It is a gift of God. It is not given to you because you worked for it. If you could work for it, you would be proud. ~ Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLV)

Paul was a proud man. Proud of his lineage, proud of his accomplishments, proud of his legalism. But God taught him that his pride in self must be laid down at the cross of Jesus Christ, believing that no matter what he did, it could never be enough to pay for his sins. But by believing...faith, that strange spiritual mechanism that doesn't make sense to us...in the Lord Jesus, he would be rescued from the bondage and penalty of sin.

If you have never made that choice to lay down your works and your pride, I pray you would choose Jesus today, because He is your only hope of salvation. If you have already placed your faith in Him, be reminded today that His work on the cross completely saves you. No amount of effort on your part adds to His grace.

So, in your love for Jesus and what He's done for you, I pray you will obey Him in humble service and holy living. Not because it saves you, but because you just want to say 'thank you' to God...

Love,
Joelene