Matthew 5:20
For I say unto you, That except (unless) your righteousness shall exceed (surpasses) the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
It is generally known that the scribes and pharisees knew the scriptures word by word, and inside out, but did this cause them to be righteous?
We read in different places in the Bible that they were called hypocrites, and brood of vipers.
▪︎ They knew it all very well,
▪︎ They knew how to blame others, if they didn’t keep themselves exactly to the laws. Laws that often were not even God’s laws, but laws that were made by themselves.
No, they were not really an example to follow!
Now listen carefully.
▪︎ It is good to know what your Bible says.
▪︎ It is good to follow the instructions that are given in it.
▪︎ And it is good to warn people when you see they are in danger of losing their eternal destination in God’s Kingdom.
But…
▪︎ You should never act like the pharisees.
▪︎ You should never act like hypocrites pointing others to their mistakes, and not care about your own.
▪︎ Jesus expects us to be righteous,
▪︎ Jesus expects us to be in the state as we ought to be,
▪︎ Jesus expects us to be in the condition which is acceptable to God.
So that we live in a way, which is approved of God.
Living a life of integrity, virtue, purity, rightness, and correctness of thinking, feeling, and acting.
In a decadent society, as we live in these days, it takes energy and willpower to believe, to resist, to contend, to fight, and to struggle, to live a holy life and to remain acceptable before God.
With many this is missing these days, and it is good to do some self-examination on this. Ask yourself:
▪︎ Am I still resisting what the world offers, or is there a desire to conform to the world?
▪︎ Am I still fighting sin that tries to enter into life, or did I give up, or am I about to give in to the constant attacks of this world, that come in, like sea billows hit the shore?
▪︎ Am I still following my Lord, or did I start to follow my own ideas?
▪︎ Am I still holding on to the faith, or am I drifting away?
▪︎ Am I still struggling to live a life acceptable to God, or am I yielding to the world’s pleasures?
▪︎ Am I still willing live a holy life?
Hold on to your faith!
This world has nothing to offer you that will last.
It is all temporary, and will soon be gone.
Do you know that the same conditions that are today visible in our world were also present in Rome before it fell? The same conditions that prevailed in Rome, prevail now in our society. And what happened to Rome, may also happen to the world of our days.
▪︎ Before Rome fell, her standards were abandoned, and so is the world today leaving God’s standards.
▪︎ Before Rome fell, the family was disintegrated, and by ignoring God’s instructions, so is it today.
▪︎ Before Rome fell, divorce prevailed, and so it does today. And on top of that, the world even undermines the meaning and values of marriage.
▪︎ Before Rome fell, immorality was rampant, and so it is today.
▪︎ Before Rome fell, faith was at a very low tide. Like today, there was much talking about religion, but few practiced it.
Now I’m NOT calling you to any religion, but to a relationship with your Creator, with your heavenly Father. For there is NO RELIGION that can save you from the wrath of God. ONLY JESUS can!
Prayer suggestions
▪︎ Ask God for forgiveness, and to help you with the items in the self-test where you saw you went wrong.
▪︎ Ask God to help you to keep your eyes on Him only.
▪︎ Ask Jesus that you may be worthy to bear the name Christian.
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