8 Minute Read
Today’s Bible Reading:
Numbers 14:1-15:16
Mark 14:53-72
Psalm 53:1-6
Proverbs 11:4
Today’s Bible Verse(s):
Psalm 53:2-3 (NLT): “God looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one!”
Reflections on Today’s Bible Verse(s):
It’s been my observation that most people think that they are a good person. In fact, if I was walking down the street and someone asked me, “Do you think you’re a good person?” I’d probably say “Yes,” too.
Why is it so natural for us to think of ourselves as good? Why do we find it so easy to proclaim our goodness to others?
Because we have watered down the definition of that word. The way we define “goodness” is not the way that God defines “goodness.”
When we define goodness, we are saying that we haven’t killed anyone. We haven’t committed adultery. We aren’t a liar. We aren’t a thief.
… at least we think those statements are true of us.
So, can I ask you a few questions to see if you are a good person? Thank you.
Have you ever been angry with someone? Of course, you have. We all have. Well, in Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus equated anger with murder. So, you, my friend, are a murderer. You have broken the 6th Commandment (Exodus 20:13).
Have you ever looked at someone to lust after them (your intentional look aroused sexual passions in your mind/heart)? Jesus said that whoever looks to lust has committed adultery in his heart (Matthew 5:27-28). So, you, my friend, are an adulterer. You have broken the 7th Commandment (Exodus 20:14).
Have you ever told a lie? Even once? Of course, you have. We all have. And what do you call someone who has told a lie? A liar, right? So, you, my friend, are a liar. You have broken the 9th Commandment (Exodus 20:16).
Have you ever taken anything that didn’t belong to you (no matter how small)? Of course, you have. Well, what do you call someone who steals? A thief! So, you, my friend, are a thief. You have broken the 8th Commandment (Exodus 20:15).
So, by your own admission, you are a murderer, an adulterer, a liar, and a thief. And we’ve only looked at 4 of the 10 Commandments.
Do you see how misinformed we are when we proclaim our own goodness? Do you see how our verse for today is true when it says that God looks down from Heaven and can’t find anyone who is doing good?
You may say, “Well, I’m mostly good. I’m a liar, but most of the time, I tell the truth.”
Imagine with me that you are sitting in a court of law. The defendant is accused of murder. But, he speaks up and says, “I killed someone in cold blood. But, most of the time, I just leave people alone. I’m good most of the time. It’s only every now and then that I kill someone.”
You get the point, don’t you?
So, what does a truth like the one found in today’s Bible verses cause us to do?
Psalm 53:2-3 (NLT): “God looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one!”
It should cause us to run, not walk, to the foot of the cross and fall down in repentance. It should cause us to trust in Jesus as our source of righteousness and stop trusting in ourselves to make us right in God’s eyes.
Because we aren’t morally good. Only Jesus is morally upright and fully pleasing to God. It is only as we recognize our guilt before a holy God and put our trust in Jesus to forgive and save us that we are made right in God’s eyes. He takes our sin, and He credits us with His righteousness.
So, if you are trusting in yourself to be good enough to make you right in God’s eyes, stop it. You will never, ever be able to be good enough. Instead, trust in Jesus to make you good enough. That’s precisely why He died on the cross, my friend.
Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com). His latest book is God’s Grace in the Real World. Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
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