Today's Daily Devotional - "Self-righteousness Insufficient" - 8/14/17

Self-righteousness Insufficient

Related image


For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20.

The greatest deception of the human mind in Christ's day was that a mere assent to the truth constitutes righteousness. In all human experience a theoretical knowledge of the truth has been proved to be insufficient for the saving of the soul. It does not bring forth the fruits of righteousness.... The Pharisees claimed to be children of Abraham, and boasted of their possession of the oracles of God; yet these advantages did not preserve them from selfishness, malignity, greed for gain, and the basest hypocrisy....

The same danger still exists. Many take it for granted that they are Christians, simply because they subscribe to certain theological tenets. But they have not brought the truth into practical life. They have not believed and loved it, therefore they have not received the power and grace that come through sanctification of the truth. Men may profess faith in the truth; but if it does not make them sincere, kind, patient, forbearing, heavenly-minded, it is a curse to its possessors, and through their influence it is a curse to the world.

The righteousness which Christ taught is conformity of heart and life to the revealed will of God. Sinful men can become righteous only as they have faith in God and maintain a vital connection with Him. Then true godliness will elevate the thoughts and ennoble the life. Then the external forms of religion accord with the Christian's internal purity. Then the ceremonies required in the service of God are not meaningless rites, like those of the hypocritical Pharisees.

Salvation is God's free gift to the believer, given to him for Christ's sake alone. The troubled soul may find peace through faith in Christ, and his peace will be in proportion to his faith and trust. He cannot present his good works as a plea for the salvation of his soul.

-from "The Faith I Live By" pg. 108 (Ellen White) 


Today's Prayer Focus: Careers/Jobs            Scheduled Bible Reading: Genesis 31-33

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Today's Daily Devotion - 'It’s Friday but Sunday's Coming' - 8/11/17

Image
  'It’s Friday but Sunday's Coming' - He was dead. Now He’s Alive!     After six grueling hours of vicious taunts, mental torture and physical torment, Jesus cried with a loud voice, breathed his last breath and “yielded His Spirit.”  The centurion  guards standing by saw he was dead. Later solders came to break the legs of Jesus and the two criminals, but they said “He is dead.” The women standing at the foot of the cross,  including Mary and Mary Magdalene, said, “He is dead.’ The crowd by now had dispersed.  No doubt, wagging their heads, saying, “He’s dead.” Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy and prominent council member said, “He is  dead.”  So he came to claim the body for burial. Pilate’s surprised reaction was, “Is He already dead?” By now the report must have arrived to the Pharisees who had schemed to have Jesus executed. I can imagine a Messenger saying, “He’s dead.”  And a smug smil...
Read more

Today's Daily Devotion - 'It’s Friday but Sunday's Coming' - 8/18/17

Image
It's Friday but Sunday's Coming: An Exhortation from Gethsemane It was the beginning of 3 days that these 3 men would never forget. Never. The hour was late. Much had happened. The last supper. Prideful posturing. Washing feet. Judas’ departure. And the ensuing walk across the Kedron valley with Jesus teaching. Encouraging. Comforting. Promising. Peter, James, and John are invited to walk a little farther, as Jesus entered into prayer to the Father. Struggle. Sorrow. Supplication. These words describe Jesus’ emotions in Gethsemane’s garden as Thursday turned into Friday. And what words describe the disciples? Weariness. Slumbering. Sleeping. Jesus simply asked them, “Stay here and keep watch with me.” But while the Savior prayed. The disciples slept. You can hear the disappointment in Jesus’ voice as he asked “What? “Could you not watch with me one hour?” Then he issued this heart-felt exhortation. “ Watch and pray, lest you enter into tem...
Read more