Proverbs 12:28 In the way of righteousness there is life;
along that path is immortality.

This truth has been recognized at least since the days of Solomon, but the problem is, no one is perfectly righteous. This actually is the central theme of the Bible, because from the Garden of Eden man­kind has chosen death, through rebellion against God. That’s why Jesus came, as the only perfectly righteous one, to take on Himself the death that everyone else deserved. There is indeed life in righteousness, as this verse says, but we must appropriate that righteousness “by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) The whole issue of grace and faith can be terribly confusing to our finite minds, and there are disputes even today over the issue. Ephesians 2:8-10 is justly famous and would seem to be clear enough, except that we get confused about what it means when it says that we are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (verse 10) Some are so focused on grace that they forget that we are created to do good works, not wallow in the works of the flesh. There is absolutely no way we could ever be good enough for God in our own strength, but we are to be active participants in His righteousness and holiness that He wants to manifest through us. Forgetting that is walking in death and darkness, instead of life and light.

I have learned personally that the only way to really be rid of besetting sins is to understand that I am forgiven. That might seem to be counter-intuitive, and it is in no way an excuse to keep sinning, but it is a powerful weapon against the devil’s lie that “That’s just the way you are; it can’t be helped.” This is what Peter was talking about in 2 Peter 1:5-9. “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.” We can’t generate all those good qualities on our own, because our sins get in the way. We have to repent of our sins and accept God’s forgiveness, and then God will work all those qualities in and through us. That’s been my experience, and I must not give upon people who seem to have such difficulty grasping that it’s really true.

Father, help me be increasingly effective in communicating Your Gospel in all its magnificence. You know those I will encounter today. May I speak Your truth to them in love, so that the lies of the enemy may be destroyed and people be set free by Your grace, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!