HINDERING THE WORK OF GRACE THROUGH SELF – RIGHTEOUSNESS

13^th NOVEMBER 2019

“Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight” – Isaiah 5:21

One major hindrance against the work of Grace in our life is “self-righteousness”. This happens when we deliberately lie to ourselves or are simply sentimental regarding the ordinary things of life, or regarding basic spiritual tenets and obligations. Not minding the fact that we suffer being deceived from time to time from external sources, our own hearts are also deceitful—so much so that we easily fool ourselves. Some believe they know it all and tend to look down on others. They talk so loud about their presumed knowledge and morality while kicking vehemently against the opinion or attitude of others, and claim superior knowledge, especially in matters beyond their reasonable understanding. By so doing, they forget that only empty vessels make the loudest noise. Stop lying to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth from falsehood anymore.

 The grace of God is meant to strengthen us and make us strong in areas of our weaknesses; but if we already adopted a lying, self – righteous posture or decide to pretend to be strong or pretend to have knowledge about things beyond us, then, we do not benefit from the perfect work of Grace.  One root cause of self-righteousness is arrogance. The scripture says, “The pride of your heart has deceived you” (Obadiah 1:3). Human pride always blinds to the truth. Pride promises honor, but it delivers disgrace in the short run: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).  The second root cause of self – righteousness is an absolute disregard for the “doing of the word of God” For instance if you are praying for the wellbeing of anyone, back it up also with physical action. Therefore, if you pray for the poor also feed and clothe them. That is what makes prayer to work. Prayer and action create manifestation. Don’t just pray without doing anything to help in the physical, otherwise, you deceive yourself. Flowing with the spirit is not all about accumulating truth in our hearts or heads; it’s about putting the word of truth into action. Therefore, if we read the scriptures and do not do the word of God, we deceive ourselves. James 1:22 warns us against deceiving ourselves: Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Empty religion allows a person to employ his bodily members and his material resources toward self-centered objectives. But God approves of “faith expressing itself through love or charity” (Galatians 5:6). Beloved, self – righteousness is disastrous, for you alone are accountable. The word of God is telling us today to avoid self-righteousness or self-judgment. Stop self – referential or a syndrome of measuring yourself with yourself or compare “yourself to yourself”. Those who do that are not wise, (2 Corinthians 10:12).  Starting from today, employ humility in your affairs; open yourself to guidance by the Holy Spirit; this is how you can tap into the grace of God at all times. Become radically committed to measuring your life by what the scriptures call us to do for God and for others, and by nothing else. Listen carefully to criticisms about your person – especially, those who openly oppose you. This ought to serve you best because open criticisms usually do not spare your feelings, and are spoken honestly, even though harshly. Make Psalms 139:23-24 your fervent prayer all the time.

In addition to this, remember Jesus is there always for us, ready to show you the WAY and to make you STRONG when you are lost or weak.

PRAYER

Psalms 139:23-24

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me And lead me in the way everlasting. AMEN

 FURTHER READING: 1 Corinthians 3:18