Ezekiel 33:13
Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die.
God is so gracious. He knows my heart and my situation better than I do. He knows (1) I desire to trust in my own righteousness and (2) that I will fail to be just in many deeds. I wake up every morning with a self-centered heart that is bent toward sin. During the day I want a spotlight on what I deem to be my successes and try to hide any of my failings as if they don't exist. When company comes to visit, the house appears to be sparkling clean, but the rough edges have been stored away inside the closets. God sees inside those places in my heart and doesn't simply leave them out of sight, but exposes them. This is gracious. He does not leave us where we are in our sin, nor will He allow us to claim our own righteousness. If we seek to justify ourselves before Him and claim our own merit, we will be judged for our deeds. I don't want this, and praise God it doesn't have to be this way. There is One who is righteous that stood in my place, taking my sin upon Himself, suffering and dying the death I deserved. Death couldn't conquer Him, but it would have conquered me. I need God to graciously continue to shine a light into my heart, exposing those things I'd like to justify or hide. I need to realize anew each day that my relationship with him isn't ultimately based on my performance, which is so flawed, but on the perfect work of His Son, Jesus Christ. Praise and glory be to Him.
