"I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
- Matthew - 5:20
 
We cannot discover our failure to keep God's law except by trying our very hardest (and then failing). Unless we really try, whatever we say, there will always be at the back of our minds the idea that, if we try harder next time, we shall succeed in being completely good. Thus, in one sense, the road back to God is a road of moral effort, of trying harder and harder. But in another sense, it is not trying that is ever going to bring us home. All this trying leads up to the vital moment at which you turn to God and say, "You must do this. I can't."
 
Christian friends, because we have . . .

"I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
- Matthew - 5:20
 
We cannot discover our failure to keep God's law except by trying our very hardest (and then failing). Unless we really try, whatever we say, there will always be at the back of our minds the idea that, if we try harder next time, we shall succeed in being completely good. Thus, in one sense, the road back to God is a road of moral effort, of trying harder and harder. But in another sense, it is not trying that is ever going to bring us home. All this trying leads up to the vital moment at which you turn to God and say, "You must do this. I can't."
 
Christian friends, because we have Christ's righteousness, we can obey God out of love. This makes our righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees.
 
The righteousness of Christ
Is free to everyone;
But we must face our sin and guilt
And trust God's precious Son.
 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - We are saved by Christ's atonement, not by our attainment.