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.
The Faith I Live By p. 108
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray that God will supply all my children’s needs. Buck
—-Pray for Lori, she broke her ankle, requiring surgery, a placement of a pin in it. James
—-please pray for my B/P. to drop .it has been running very high the past few weeks. it had gotten to 217/110 Sabbath morning. and it has been staying around 177./90 regularly. please keep me in prayer. Also I have been fighting depression and grief. Pray that I can get back to my old self again. C
—-Please keep Caroline in prayer since her surgery is Friday. Connie
—-Asking prayers for my daughter, she and family are in _______ for a 10 year mission with AFM…My daughter Sonya has double ear infection and pneumonia… My 6 year old grand baby has a uti…infection.. Please pray for them. Toni
—-update—Thank you all for your prayers. My daughter is found. She is safe. Thank you very much for your earnest prayers. Thank God for His love and mercy. Julia
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Dear Friends,
When Ronnie Jay was about two, we lived in an upstairs apartment over the landlady’s garage. This apartment was across the street from our church and church school which was very convenient for Eileen.
Many times we had people knock on our door and ask for some sort of help. How they knew that we were affiliated with the church I don’t know. Perhaps the landlady had directed them to us. Although we did not have enough for ourselves, we never turned anyone away. We did what we could to help in each individual case.
One night we were awakened by a loud knock on our door. It was the police; who told Ron that as they were driving by, they happened to notice someone stealing gas from our car. Seeing the police, the thief, gas cap in hand, grabbed the now full gas can, ran across the street and across the large wooded yard of the church. As he did so, he threw the gas cap with all of his might.
The next day we hunted and hunted, but could not find it. This was a real trial for us because at that time we had hardly enough money for food. We could not afford another gas cap. In His mercy, God supplied our need. A day or two later, one of the deacons had found our gas cap while he was mowing the churchyard.
Amazingly, the thief was caught and brought before the judge. Ron was told that he must be there. The judge ordered the thief to pay us ten dollars to replace the cap. Ron explained to the judge that we had found it, but he said that it was OK, the thief still owed us the money.
What had seemed like another hard trial, had become a blessing. That ten dollars bought the food we needed. The Bible says, “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Rom 8:28 Sometimes this truth is hard to believe when everything is going so terribly wrong, but it is true. Our Loving Creator says, “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.” “Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” Isa 43:1-3; Ps 50:15 That deliverance often takes more time than we would like or it is not in the exact way we expect; but He has His own timing and knows what is best.
May we trust Him in all situations, whether it be a small trial like a stolen gas cap, or whether it be a great and devastating trial that changes our whole life. May we say as did Job, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” Job 13:15 May “the trial of [our] faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, . . . be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” is my prayer. 1 Peter 1:7
Rose
Self-righteousness Insufficient