God’s standards are very high and that is why we need a Savior – to do for us that which we cannot do for ourselves. He gives to us the gift of forgiveness and the gift of Himself – so that He might reside in us and produce in us His own life of love and righteousness. The old saying goes, “One life and soon will pass, only what’s done for Christ will last.” Perhaps, it would be better to say, “only what’s done through Christ will last.” The Christian life is an “exchanged” life. Through surrender and dependence we exchange our own efforts for the work of Christ in us and through us. Only Christ can produce the real deal and only what he accomplishes will count in the end.
Lord, it so easy to play games and I know I have. There is much I justify that allows me mistakenly to feel alright about things that actually need to be abandoned in my approach to Christian living. Forgive me for exalting myself above others through the pride of supposed accomplishment. Forgive me for usurping your role as the true source of my spirituality. Since it is all about you, there is no room for pride and since there is no room for pride, there is no room for anything but love and acceptance of others. Amen!