Try To Justify

Luke 10:28-29

Who eats the last cookie in your house? You’ll come to find out that I love analogies that have to do with movies and desserts. My family are also pretty big cookie fans. I admit that I’m usually the one that find that last cookie (or two) left in the package and finishes it up to “save space” in the pantry. Do you see what I did there? I justified, or gave a reason for why I finished off the cookies in the pantry. In our reading today the “expert” in the Jewish law attempts to justify his own actions to Jesus. The difference here is that while I was only talking about cookies, this “expert” is trying to justify his actions before God to prove how holy or righteous he is. Remember yesterday, this “expert” knows the Mosaic Law, he quoted it directly to Jesus when asked. But, for all that knowledge of God’s Word, he didn’t have the heart to resist making himself holy by his own standard. I find that to be true of a lot of Christians today. Not our church, of course, we are all perfect. But, there is that one church in a galaxy far-far-away where people are able to quote what the Bible says without also having the heart that God’s Word is supposed to develope in us. We need to pray for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and reflect on our own walk, are there areas where you are trying to justify yourself? 

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You that in Your Word there is freedom from sin and death. Please help me to hold myself to Your standards and not try to justify my own actions. Amen. 

Reflection:

Are there parts of your life where you are justifying something? 

What can you do to change it?