Wednesday 7 April, 2021
In this passage, Paul talks about the righteousness God offers us simply by us believing that Jesus is the Son of God and came and died as a sacrifice in our place. But unfortunately, sometimes, we can overcomplicate things by relying on our own efforts to please God.
It can be tempting to have a relationship with God based on our own efforts because it’s easy to measure: if I do good things, then I know that God will love me / accept me / forgive me.
But when this happens, we’re on a slippery slope or unsteady ground. We never can tell just how much good we have to do in order for God to be pleased with us or to love us more. And living this way, we’ll keep “bumping up” against Jesus who offers a different way to God – by believing and trusting in Him. When we do, we will never be put to shame (v33). What a beautiful promise of God that is.
Father, may we keep surrendering to Your way of righteous by continually placing our trust and faith in Jesus instead of our own actions.
Written by Gab Martin
Observation: Faith and belief are the the keys to salvation.
The Israelites had zeal and but it was not based on knowledge. They did not submit to God’s righteousness and established their own. Christ solves the law so righteousness is found through belief.
Application: Where am I trying to become righteous in my own strength? Is my identity in my works (what I do) or in my faith in Christ? Where is my zeal / effort focused on knowledge or something similar rather than sharing / believing in God/Christ? How can I be more zealous for God/Christ in my everyday?