40 Days of Easter 2011 Devotional

40 Days of Easter - March 22, 2011

Written by: Glen Kirby

Trying or Trusting
Matthew 23:1-5, 23-28

Jesus had harsh statements to say about the religious leaders of His day who served God on the outside but were dead on the inside. He referred to them as "whitewashed tombs." To the world and in their own sight, they appeared to be clean and white. God saw a different picture. He looked on the inside and saw they were dead and unclean.

There's a line in the world today which divides people into two categories. On one side, there are those who are trying to be right with God through their actions. That is the problem; they are trying and basing their hope on their own efforts. In the end those efforts, those works, will be rejected.

On the other side are those who are trusting in Jesus. Their trust is not in their own goodness but in Christ's righteousness. The Bible says they are accepted before God. The Apostle Paul writes inEphesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

One has zeal to please God by their works. They are religious. The other has a love for God and faith in His Son Jesus. They have a relationship.

Folks, I submit to you that some of us are not greatly unlike the Pharisees; we have spent some or most of our life "trying", trying to make ourselves righteous by simply performing a 'balancing the scales act' of doing all the good we can so our good deeds outweigh the bad ones! In the end, Jesus' words will be "woe".

The truth which the Bible shares is that in Christ and Christ alone our righteousness is found. Jesus is our hope. He is our peace. He is our life.

Isn't it time you stop trying and start trusting in Jesus?

Dear Father, May I truly trust You and Your Son Jesus Christ for my salvation. I humbly submit my life, my will, and my destiny to You.