“But now a righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Romans 3:21-22) Up until about a year ago, I looked upon the Pharisees with as much disdain as the next believer. It all started with a a powerful and thought-provoking message I heard at church about the prayers of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14). A year later, I’m still trying to absorb the impact. For just a moment, challenge yourself to wipe your mind clean of any of the preconceived thoughts or attitudes you’ve always attached to the Pharisee. Imagine that this guy maybe wasn’t among the group that were constantly after Jesus as a blasphemer. This Pharisee had been brought up in a respectable Jewish family, with parents who loved him and did their best to train him up in the faith that could be traced back over hundreds of generations. As a grown man, a husband and father, he continues the tradition of raising up his family in the same way. All the while thinking he is doing the right and noble thing and abiding by the Books of the Law to the best of his abilities, while patiently awaiting the promised Messiah. And while he’s not at the extreme of the Pharisees who are on a mission to arrest Jesus, he’s not completely convinced this man Jesus is the Son of God, either. So he continues on believing his he’s doing a good enough job to stay in favor with the Lord. You know a modern day version of this person don’t you? He’s someone who was practically born and raised in the church. He comes from a good, respectable family that has had its roots in church from several generations back. For the most part he’s a good guy, however, he also KNOWS he’s “good.” Or “good enough,” rather, to have met the requirements for heaven. I have no doubt these hypothetical men would be considered good, law-abiding citizens. The problem is, in the economy of God, righteousness has nothing to do with “doing good.” We can hope all we want that cash wouldn’t be the currency we use, but the fact remains that money is the way the system works. Your efforts to be a good person probably makes you a pleasant person to be around, but unfortunately, that’s not the standard our God has set.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Jun 2013 23:11:45 +0000