We Measure Up Only In Christ

"Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:19-20)

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:23-26)

In reading Romans 3 today, Paul reminds me that it is not enough to be good. If we were to judge ourselves strictly by the law of God, and all the commandments, we would fail because we are prone to evil and sin. Similarly, to boast and measure ourselves by the level of our perceived righteousness is prideful and futile at the same time. We will never fully measure up to every letter of the law. However, the law exposes us to the weaknesses of ourselves and shows us our sins.

It is that this point that many people will give up on God. There is an overwhelming guilt because of our sins, and we don't know if we can ever become the type of person that can please God.

However, there is Jesus. Yes, Paul reminds us of our sinful natures, but at the same time, He also reminds us that when Jesus came, He shed His blood in lieu of us. Although by our sins we deserved to die, Jesus died for us and absorbed our sins. There is no effort needed on our part except to have faith in Jesus.

There are challenges to that as well, of course. We are not only called to believe in Jesus, for even the demons believe in Christ but they willfully reject and despise Him. Instead, we are called to follow Him wherever He asks us to go and do whatever the Holy Spirit is asking us to do. That is not an easy task. But, our goal is not to be comfortable, but instead we must desire and choose to become more like Him daily.

Lord Jesus, I know that I can do better, and I know that I am not a perfect person who does not sin on occasion. It isn't my desire, it isn't my want, but instead it is my weakness. I am so glad for Your Holy Spirit, that You came and not only died for my sins, but gave me a helper to overcome so many bad habits and sins that had plagued me for so many years. I am changed because of You, but I am hardly perfect. That's okay, because I know that You did the hard work and served as a replacement for my punishment. Thank You Lord. I am blessed beyond words. May I always be willing to lay aside my current life and embrace whatever plans You have for me in the next steps. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Remembering He is Holy

5Then He said, "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground."

13Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they say to me, 'What is His name?' what shall I say to them?" 14And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

(Exodus 3: 5, 13-14)

I don't really know what religion Moses was up to the point when he saw the burning bush. Being nursed by his Hebrew mother, he may have heard of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. However, being raised in the Egyptian court as an adopted son, he may have forgotten God and been taught of the Egyptian dieties.

In this re-introduction to God, it strikes me that the Lord first and foremost wants to emphasize one thing very clearly - He IS God over all - the great Creator who is and from whom everything comes from. Our life force is drawn from the Great I AM, and we do not exist without Him. When I read these passages, the fear of God absolutely crackles off the page and I know if I were Moses, I would not have been more frightened in my life.

Moreover, the place where God exists is holy. Not just sacred, it requires an absolute cleanliness of intent and being. One of the most contentious and difficult parts for us to understand about Heaven is why it would be so elusive to attain. In our minds, everyone who has lived should go to Heaven, but that ignores what Heaven is -

Heaven isn't the gratification of our wants and desires - unending self-aggrandizing joy and fulfillment. Heaven is the place where God dwells in His fullness. Heaven is holy ground through and through. That is why Jesus came. Alone with our sin stained lives, we would not be able to stand before God because His holiness would crush our unclean lives. The holy God and unholy sin cannot co-exist in the same place. The unholy is burned away - killing the one who is unclean. (In Jewish literature priests entering the Holy of Holies who were unclean were stuck dead by God - referenced in the Mishnah).

By the sacrifice of Jesus, the spotless son of God, He took our sins upon himself, so that we could be wiped clean, ready to have eternal life in Heaven. God became approachable when He chose to become a man and He could then seek out sinners and pull them out of their depths. Then, through the Holy Spirit, God personally dwells in us.

"Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are." (I Cor 3:16-17)

As a Christian, it is easy to have a casual relationship with God - it has become popular to refer to Him simply as a friend. I even have a shirt that says, "Jesus is my Homeboy". Yes, the Lord is our friend (and homeboy), but He is God too, and we cannot forget that level of respect that He deserves. In loving us, He sacrificed Himself for us. The God who spoke and Created everything. We must remember that and seek after that kind of holiness in our own lives because we are now a temple of God. God dwells inside of us. We cannot simply disregard the Lord as only a friend when He is deserving of all our worship.

Lord Jesus, I know that I have been guilty of sometimes taking Your love and affection for me for granted. That I often forget You in the ragtag pursuit of everyday life. Please forgive me and help me to worship You in spirit and in truth. Help me to clean out all that is not of You to become ready for more of Your presence. In Jesus' name, AMEN.