August 2009

Php 3:8,9 Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant--dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christvand be embraced by him. I didn't want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ--God's righteousness. (Msg Bible)

Isn't it amazing how we can sometimes lose track of what is really important in life. Knowing Jesus is the most important thing in life, trying to earn or keep our own righteousness profits absolutely nothing. The apostle Paul calls our own righteousness dog dung, strong words from someone who did keep the law. Embracing Christ and being embraced by Him is what is the most important of all. Rule keeping is an inferior brand of righteousness, it does not please God. Knowing Jesus and receiving His gift of righteousness is what really pleases God, as we are not relying on how good or bad we are, but trusting completely in how good God is and what He accomplished in and through Jesus. You are righteous because you trust in Jesus!