I was talking with a man I'd never met before today during a lengthy family event. The conversation stemmed from butter, to gardening, to politics, religion and education. It moved to everything in between. He was never at a loss for words. At one point he pulled out a membership card to an organization that he's been a part of for more than 42 years, proudly telling me how many orphans they have helped.
No doubt, the work is important.
As we talked about the lack of God in our culture, I worked to mention the importance of realizing God is not an idea that we have and we can't make Him out to be what we want, but we must go to the Bible to know God.
Sensing I was not of his religion, he quoted Hebrews to me about the importance of how we treat others for we may entertain angels unaware.
In that statement, because I know a good bit about his religion, I was faced afresh with the difficulty of penetrating the minds of those who think they are right with God, but who actually aren't according to what God says in His word.
What does God say about our good works? Are they good?
God says our good works are as filthy rags. Our works, done to make ourselves feel better or done to make others be impressed with us, are FILTHY RAGS. I've heard it said this is referring to menstrual rags...
We cannot please God with our own skills. We cannot outsmart God. We can come up with reasons based on circumstances in our lives that we say point to God's blessing our choices, but perhaps the point is to see the awesomeness of God and turn to Him. We can volunteer and do our best to fit in with fellow Christians and serve, but if our heart has not been made pure by Jesus Christ, our efforts are focused on self and not the King of Kings.
God, help us--help me be pure in heart so that my service is out of love for You and others--not to earn any favor, because I can't, but to be a witness of Your love in my life so that others will want to know You, too.
Those who are well do not need a physician, it is those who are sick who do. If you are trusting in anything other than Christ for salvation, according to Scripture, you are in need of a physician.
No doubt, the work is important.
As we talked about the lack of God in our culture, I worked to mention the importance of realizing God is not an idea that we have and we can't make Him out to be what we want, but we must go to the Bible to know God.
Sensing I was not of his religion, he quoted Hebrews to me about the importance of how we treat others for we may entertain angels unaware.
In that statement, because I know a good bit about his religion, I was faced afresh with the difficulty of penetrating the minds of those who think they are right with God, but who actually aren't according to what God says in His word.
What does God say about our good works? Are they good?
God says our good works are as filthy rags. Our works, done to make ourselves feel better or done to make others be impressed with us, are FILTHY RAGS. I've heard it said this is referring to menstrual rags...
We cannot please God with our own skills. We cannot outsmart God. We can come up with reasons based on circumstances in our lives that we say point to God's blessing our choices, but perhaps the point is to see the awesomeness of God and turn to Him. We can volunteer and do our best to fit in with fellow Christians and serve, but if our heart has not been made pure by Jesus Christ, our efforts are focused on self and not the King of Kings.
God, help us--help me be pure in heart so that my service is out of love for You and others--not to earn any favor, because I can't, but to be a witness of Your love in my life so that others will want to know You, too.
Those who are well do not need a physician, it is those who are sick who do. If you are trusting in anything other than Christ for salvation, according to Scripture, you are in need of a physician.
*Quite sadly, this person I was speaking to suddenly died in 2020.
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