Are You Good?featured

Have you ever had anyone ask you if you think you’re a good person? If not, let me be the first. If you have, let me ask you again. Are you a good person? Let’s actually take a second to stop and think about the question. If I was sitting in front of you right now and said “are you a good person” what would be your answer to me? Are you good?

If I didn’t already know this is a trick question I would answer with an “of course”. I am a solid believer in Jesus, I run my household as best I can in a Godly manner, I am a good wife and a good mom. I also give to the church and to local charities, I support my friends when they need a shoulder. Yes, I would consider myself good!

We Are NOT Good

When we look at Psalm 14:2-3 he so graciously tells us that “The Lord 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 (useless). No one does good, not a single one!” Then Jesus reiterates this for us when the rich man comes to him in Luke 18 and asks this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus’ response in vs 19, “Why do you call me good?” Only God is truly good.”

Turns out that in truth, no I am not a good person.

God has a whole different measuring stick then we do. He set up the law of Moses so that the Israelite’s had something to follow to help keep themselves on the straight and narrow. However, when Jesus came and died on the cross and rose again, he fulfilled that law, rendering it useless but for one thing. Romans 3:20 says: ” For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.”

When we look at that law, also called ‘The 10 Commandments’ it may seem like they really aren’t that big of a deal. Exodus 20:2-17 gives us a list of these commands. The first is simple, you must not have any other god but me. Well gee, I only serve Jesus so I am good with that one right? Unfortunately, no! When you think about your day and the things that take up your time, what are you doing that you put before Jesus? It may not be something like they had back in the day that was an image of something that is set up like a shrine that you come and pray to during the day. It may be something that flies under the radar like our phones. Could you live without your phone? What if you had to shut down your social media platforms? Could you go without those for even a couple days? There are things that are in our lives that have taken the place of where Jesus should be.

James 2:10 says: “For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws.” So even if we have only broken on of these twelve, we have broken them all.

Jesus even goes farther with these commands in Matthew 5:21-22, “you have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘you must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment!” Jesus is making it a matter of the heart! Who has never been angry with someone?

Thankfully God doesn’t leave us there, staring at the law seeing that we are sinners and leave us with no solution. Romans 3:21-22: “But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who you are!” Praise God for once again being faithful to us!

There is nothing that you or I can do to save ourselves, it all comes down to putting your faith in Jesus. Where is your faith?

Today’s Prayer

Father,

Thank you so much that as we look at scripture and see that we are sinners, we don’t have to get discouraged because we can also look at scripture and see that you made a way for us to be forgiven. Forgive me for not trusting in Jesus completely. For trying to go at life my own way. Thank you for giving me a way out, for putting Jesus in my place. Jesus, thank you for being willing to die for me! Thank you for not sparing yourself so that I might have life eternally!

Help me to set you as my one and only God! Help me to have a revelation of what that looks like and how that plays out in my life! Than you for your forgiveness, grace and mercy!

Amen