Righteous Criteria

Righteous Criteria

Genesis 18: ²² Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. ²³ And Abraham came near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? ²⁴ Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? ²⁵ Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

²⁶ So the Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.”

²⁷ Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: ²⁸ Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?”

So He said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.”

²⁹ And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose there should be forty found there?”

So He said, “I will not do it for the sake of forty.”

³⁰ Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?”

So He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

³¹ And he said, “Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there?”

So He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.”

³² Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?”

And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.” ³³ So the Lord went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.

 

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Abraham recognized that the LORD was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah from the cryptic words given by GOD. He was told by GOD that there was a great outcry against Sodom and Gomorra and their sin is very grave. Abraham knew GOD had come to destroy the city, so he began using his bargaining talents that he probably learned while acquiring his wealth.

 

My Observations:

• Abraham started with a very low number, thinking it would be ridiculous to destroy a city if fifty righteous people lived there.
• Abraham suddenly recognized that all of his numbers were too high when it came to finding righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah.
• GOD’s criteria for righteousness does not match human criteria.

 

Being born with a sin nature makes it hard to see GOD as HE really is. HE hold the criteria for what is righteous and what is not. HE gave Sodom and Gomorrah plenty of time to turn to HIM, but they refused and now HE was going to destroy it.

 

He allowed Abraham to try to bargain with HIM, attempting to convince HIM to not destroy the city.  GOD probably allowed this to show Abraham how far humans would fall and that HE holds the criteria for what is righteous. Abraham was probably concerned about Lot and his family. So he bargained feverishly to no avail.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD allow Abraham to bargain with HIM?
• Have you ever tried to bargain with GOD, trying to convince HIM to give you something?
• Will you align with GOD versus trying to bargain with HIM today?

Perfection Perplexion

Perfection Perplexion

Galatians 2: ¹⁵ Indeed, we are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners,” as they are called. ¹⁶ Yet we know that a person is put right with God only through faith in Jesus Christ, never by doing what the Law requires. We, too, have believed in Christ Jesus in order to be put right with God through our faith in Christ, and not by doing what the Law requires. For no one is put right with God by doing what the Law requires. ¹⁷ If, then, as we try to be put right with God by our union with Christ, we are found to be sinners, as much as the Gentiles are—does this mean that Christ is serving the cause of sin? By no means! ¹⁸ If I start to rebuild the system of Law that I tore down, then I show myself to be someone who breaks the Law.

 

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When I was tempted to do something “wrong” I knew in my heart I shouldn’t do it. I would give in and do it anyway. Later when something would go “wrong” I would look back at the point where I gave into the temptation and blame myself for giving in. This caused me to try to be as “perfect” as I could be.

 

• I tried to be “perfect.”
• I tried to assign problem resolution to the amount of sins that “I” thought I did.
• I did not look at grace as something that covered my sins.

 

Paul tackles one of the biggest conflicts within each believer. “Does the Law save us or is it belief in JESUS?” The Gentiles were not following the Jewish Law. They did not Sabbath, nor sacrifice. They simply believed in JESUS.

 

My Observations

• GOD’s Word is important to HIM so I choose to follow it.
• My belief in JESUS saves me eternally and the HOLY SPIRIT guides me daily.
• Sin no longer causes death for me, but when I sin, I am eternally forgiven.

 

Manipulating GOD cannot be done. I mean, when I think I can be really, really good enough to get more of HIS favor, I am actually trying to control GOD to get my way. On the other hand, when I disregard what JESUS said in HIS Word to humanity, I cold fall prey to tempting actions that drive people away from HIS kingdom rather than draw them near it.

 

Fortunately for all of us, JESUS took care of it all. HIS death, burial and resurrection took care of all my sins and I no longer have to think I need to be perfect. In fact, my messy life helps other people with similar messy lives. It makes it easier for others to understand that GOD loves messed up people like me. I am glad I am no longer bound to the Law, but I can choose to follow HIS word.

 

Challenge

• What does the writer say about the Law in this passage?
• Are you exhausted trying to follow the Law and not getting your way?
• Will you praise JESUS for HIS incredible gift and not be so hard on yourself or others around you so they, and you , can accept HIS grace that is sufficient today? 

Have Been Versus Is

Have Been Versus Is

1 Corinthians 5: ⁹ In the letter that I wrote you I told you not to associate with immoral people. ¹⁰ Now I did not mean pagans who are immoral or greedy or are thieves, or who worship idols. To avoid them you would have to get out of the world completely. ¹¹ What I meant was that you should not associate with a person who calls himself a believer but is immoral or greedy or worships idols or is a slanderer or a drunkard or a thief. Don't even sit down to eat with such a person.

 

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Over the course of my life I looked exactly like everyone else. I tried to fit into the world, so I picked up its behaviors. I read this list which included immorality, greed, idol worship, slander, getting drunk and being a thief. Yes, I have been all of the above.

 

• There have been many times when I have looked just like the world.
• There have been many times when I just wanted to fit in so I acted like “everyone” else.
• There have been many times when my own lusts made me choose to act like the world.

 

Paul gives a very strong warning about “someone who calls himself a believer but…” The “But” in his statement is very strong. He implies the person does not really believe JESUS is the only answer but mouths the words of GOD by mentioning HIM on occasion to manipulate people in immoral, greedy, idol worshipping, slanderous, drunken and thieving ways.

 

• GOD wants me to be able to confess when I sin.
• GOD wants me to be ready to admit a fallen state in hopes that I can be restored.
• GOD wants me to use the fruit of the Spirit, especially “self-control” to keep from falling back into the ways GOD dislikes.

 

Restoration can happen to anyone. I mean if I fall to being immoral, greedy, idolater, slanderous, drunk or a thief, I should be removed from leading in any gathering of believers as a leader. Fortunately, GOD wants to use sinners to spread HIS message.

 

If I confess this behavior and truly repent or stay away from old behaviors, then I can be restored and useful to lead people to CHRIST. Yes, GOD takes sin seriously and so should I. I am grateful for the HOLY SPIRIT who pleads on my behalf, who restores me and who leads me daily.

 

• Are you trying to stay away from people you have judged?
• Do you think you heart is perfect and other people have imperfect hearts?
• Will you stop applying this list to other people and examine yourself to see if there is something blocking you from speaking boldly and truthfully about JESUS today?

Weakness in Numbers

Luke 15: Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. ² And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” ³ So He spoke this parable to them, saying:

⁴ “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? ⁵ And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶ And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ ⁷ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

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After a while I felt comfortable attending church. I mean the people looked like me, acted like me and smiled in my face when I told them “I” did something good. “You want to go to the club with us?” was the question from one of my “former friend’s.” “Nah. I’m just going to stay at home” was my response.

• Somewhere along the way, I stopped hanging out with “sinners”.
• Some path led me to stop being around those who blatantly did “sinful” things.
• Somehow I determined it was not good for me to hang out with “those” sinful people.

JESUS spoke to the “churchy” people when they complained about “those” HE chose to hang around. HE responded in a direct way towards their implied accusations of “being sinful” by hanging around “sinners.” HE says “Heaven will rejoice over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine people who “think” they are clean.”

• GOD says to me “Be one of the sheep who needs to be cleaned.”
• GOD says to me “Do not think more highly of yourself, lest you shall fall.”
• GOD says to me “I found you, so go and look for MY lost sheep.”

Gatherings with people who believe in JESUS as their personal Savior should be so much more than a money collecting hut, filled with self-claimed righteous people. GOD wants me to have enough grace for myself to be able to go out and tell HIS loving story to many people.

HE wants me to drop my judgment on others, as much as I can, so I can approach those who are rejecting JESUS and HIS gift of the HOLY SPIRIT. I do know I have limitations. In other words, I must respect GOD’s power and know HE created many people to reach those I cannot. Instead of complaining about my neighbor HE wants me to reach my neighbor. I am a found sinner.

• Do you look down on someone?
• Have you judged someone and feel they are helpless?
• Will you drop the judgment you have of others and show them compassion so maybe, just maybe, they can turn their eyes to CHRIST today?