Morning Moments

"If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?"
The word "iniquities" means depravity or perversity and gets to the basic nature of humanity. All are totally depraved, which is to say that we are all, by nature, through Adam morally corrupt. It is why Jesus said, It is not what goes into a man that defiles him, but what comes out because it comes from the heart, which is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.

I am reminded of a young Christian who was speaking with her mother in law. She had just recently had the burden of sin lifted and saved by grace through faith. It is important that I tell you something about this young woman who is now over 70 years of age. She was a delightful child and never displeased her parents. She never kissed but one man in her life and he became her husband. She was a great inspiration and encouragement to all; an honor student and focused. BUT when she saw that the problem in her life of PRIDE, not lust, covetousness, etc. and repented, made her a new creature. Believe me when I say I know how "good" she was because she is my sister.

In this expression of new found joy and forgiveness, she asked her mother in law if she had ever been received forgiveness of her sins and salvation from the Lord. To which her mother in law replied: "I have never been a sinner!"

You see, no matter how "good" a person is to the rest of us, to God he/she is a sinner and only sinners need to be saved. No matter what we may think of ourselves or what others may think of us, we are rotten to the core and the core is rotten too. You may be proud of what you are and who you are, but the truth is you are just like the rest of us: a sinner by name, by nature, and by knowledge. Others are not God's standard for you and vice versa. We have ALL sinned and come short of the glory of God, and must either accept the provision God has made for our forgiveness or face the condemnation for our refusal to do that.

PRAYER: Lord, help us to realize that no one can be accepted by you on the basis of his/her own merits. It must be through Jesus Christ alone, who died for our sins and was raised from the dead to live in us by the faith you give us through repentance. Help us never to think nor lead others to think that being "good" is good enough.