SELAH Daily Devotions!

 Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteous that the Lord your God is giving you this good land, for you are a stiff-necked people. Deuteronomy 9:6

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; Philippians 3:9-10
 

Are you proud of yourself! Come on now; how many of us have, consciously or unconsciously, given ourselves a slight pat on the back or an inward nod because we did something better or knew more about something  that no one else in our sphere of influence knew?  Exactly!  Of course I’m not suggesting that we venture off to the other end of the spectrum and fall into self-debasement or self-loathing.  I’m simply noting how easily the line between arrogance and self esteem can become blurred!
 
Taking pride in our successful accomplishments has its place in our lives.  However when we over-compensate ourselves for what we’ve managed to attain to the point that we levitate through life as if our ‘performance’ gives us an edge above everyone else,  WATCHOUT! You’re  headed down a slippery ledge to destruction! (Ref. Proverb 16:18)  
 
Sometimes even Christians find themselves ominously near the vicinity of Pharisee Blvd and Straight Street, when it comes to Righteousness. (Ref. Matthew 5:20)  When our righteousness is based on our performance, we’ve missed it by miles! If we’re relying upon our good works to qualify us for a automatic ticket to Heaven, boy are we ever deceiving ourselves! When we equate our holiness according to the world’s standards, we’re sho nuff trippin’!  So what hope do we have of reaching the lofty Pentacle of Acceptability to GOD?
 
Have I got some good news for you! There is a way to receive God’s Righteousness and it doesn’t involve anything that YOU can do on your own.  It’s called Grace! Grace is God’s free Gift to us, something that we could never earn or merit—a right-standing with a Holy God!
 
God’s Righteousness is based solely upon personal acceptance, through faith in the finished works of Christ Jesus!  The scripture says, ‘For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
 
There is a well-spring of exhilarating freedom in just taking God at His Word; knowing that you ain’t right, BUT…JESUS IS! 
 
SELAH!
 
Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!
 
Ann Caffee