“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” Romans 3:10
Today’s Christian daily devotional
“My religion is kindness.” Lexi slides on her sunglasses and basks in the comforting afternoon sun.
“That sounds really good and nice.” I quickly respond, ignoring that pull in my heart. The one that tells me that as right as her words may sound, there’s something very wrong about her statement.
“Explain a bit more, please.” I shield my eyes from the sun with my baseball cap.
“I’m quoting the Dalai Lama. He believed as long as you were a kind person, that’s all that really matters.” Taking a long drawl from her icy mocha, Lexi smiles in satisfaction.
“So, what is ‘kind’? Did the Dalai Lama define it?” I’m sincerely inquisitive.
“No. But, I imagine it’s whatever you think is good and kind.” Lexi replies.
“So, what if I am a serial killer rapist? If I just rape a girl and don’t actually kill her as my ‘act of kindness”, do you think that counts?” I really want to know her thoughts on this.
“Come on, Jules! That’s a crazy question.” She’s a bit stumped, but I can see she doesn’t exactly know why.
“You’re telling me that kindness is varied upon the person performing it. Therefore it’s relative to each person’s personal standards.”
“Yea…so?” Lexi chews on her straw.
“So, your religion of kindness sets you up to be your own god…” I think out loud. “I would never trust myself enough to appoint myself as God.” My words feel as heavy as my thoughts.
It’s sad that Lexi has needlessly put this enormous responsibility on her own shoulders! How will she ever know if she’s been ‘kind’ enough? When it’s all said and done –what if she isn’t actually the god she appointed herself to be? What will she do then?
When I think about my conversation with Lexi, Romans 3:10 comes to mind. The apostle Paul is reminding people about the depravity of men. Left to our own devices, even our ‘good deeds’ are laced with selfish intentions. Even if our thoughts and deeds may not be as blatantly wicked as that serial killer rapist’s; how good to the core are we, really?
God provided a standard for us to measure ourselves with. In the Bible, the Old Testament gave God’s laws. These Ten Commandments showed God’s expectations for His people.
The Israelites bucked against these laws, going back and forth with God. Rebelling and living under extreme oppression, obeying and living under great blessings.
Jesus even took the laws of God to the level that went deeper than the outward show—He delved into the inward intensions of the heart. Remember, God sees it all! Jesus only reminded man that God can peel back the layers of our good deeds and cut right down to the heart of our secret motives and hidden intentions.
So, what does God’s laws have to do with Lexi and her Dalai Lama?
Although being kind is always a good thing, it is never the measure to earn your way into heaven. God never mentioned (or the Dalai for that matter!) how many kind deeds must be done to enter safely into the heavenly side of eternity.
He provided the Ten Commandments to show us that we could never measure up to God’s standards. But, God in His mercy and love didn’t just leave us to wallow in our depravity!
He provided a solution to our sinful nature. Knowing we could never be perfect, God sent His sinless Son, Jesus, who was perfect. And although He never sinned on earth and performed many miracles while He was here, He died a horribly cruel and humiliating death.
Why did Jesus bother doing this? Because someone had to suffer for the sins of mankind. Jesus knew that man could never save Himself. So, He willingly obeyed the will of His Father and took the brunt of the punishment that was meant for us.
I don’t have what it takes to be my own god and I know it.
Are you trying to save yourself? So, with all due respect, how’s that working out for you?
“Dear Heavenly Father,
Even my kind deeds are sometimes so selfish. I want to look good to others, so I make sure to sound the horn when I do something nice.
This kind of behavior is so pompous and arrogant, and every time someone strokes my ego, I buy into the lie that ‘I’m a good person’. Well, I’m not. I’m an egotistical braggart that likes to do good things in front of others because it makes me look good.
I’m ashamed at my vanity. The wickedness of what my ‘righteousness’ looks like to a Holy God that can see beneath the shiny surface and cut down to the heart of the matter.
Lord, forgive me! Forgive me for lifting myself up as a God and expecting that I could get away with it.
I don’t want to save myself. I know that I can’t. I admit this now.
Lord, I never really took the time to learn what Jesus was all about. I commit to reading the New Testament. I will search the scriptures.
I will open my heart to the truth. If Jesus really was the Son of God that came to save me from myself, I will believe in Him.
But, I won’t be a dumb sheep that will just follow what others tell me. I will take my spiritual responsibilities upon myself.
In Jesus’ name, bless me to be hungry for the truth and to recognize the real thing and to accept it even if it hurts, Amen.”
Thank you for reading today’s Christian daily devotional on verses: Romans 3:10
Please check back and see what we have for you tomorrow!
Author: Julia Shalom Jordan