Luke 16:15 He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.”

This issue comes up again and again in the Bible. Human standards are generally meaningless. As Paul said, “We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” (2 Corinthians 10:12) Society today is very accepting of various things that are clearly against Scripture, and we are constantly being pressured to accept more. The problem is, there is indeed such a thing as absolute truth, however much people say “my truth” and “your truth.” Our perceptions are very often skewed. That’s why the Old Testament speaks repeatedly of a “plumb line,” meaning God’s standard of what is right and wrong. Violating that is like trying to violate the law of gravity! That’s why the only wise course is to seek out God’s standards and strive to follow them with His help. Actually, we are incapable of following them fully on our own, but He very graciously helps those who seek Him from their heart. The simplest way to condense all of this is to say that just because everybody’s doing it, doesn’t mean it’s OK.

I think everybody struggles with this to at least some degree. In Japanese society, doing what everybody is doing is commended, regardless of any intrinsic right or wrong. There’s even a proverb that says that it’s not scary to cross the street against the light if everybody’s doing it! I’ve always been something of an outsider, for various reasons, and I have tried at times to fit in by doing what everybody seemed to be doing, regardless of any intrinsic value. That was never a good idea! At the same time, I’m not to be different just for the sake of being different. I’ve done a bit of that, too! The phrase, “What would Jesus do?” often shortened to WWJD, has its value, but the point is that Jesus did what He did because He was constantly listening to His Father by the Holy Spirit. We tend to forget that He made a whip of cords and literally drove the merchants out of the Court of the Gentiles in the temple! The Holy Spirit is never going to direct me to violate Scripture, but He may tell me to do something unconventional or unexpected. I must remember that Jesus is my example and my standard, and not settle for anything less.

Father, thank You for this reminder. May I live each day in full submission and obedience to You, judging things as You see them and no other way. And that includes judging myself! Thank You for Your truly amazing grace. May I be an effective channel of that grace to all I encounter, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!