Read with me, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.” Romans 8:5
It is not what you do that makes you more righteous. Righteousness is a person. Can your actions diminish the value of Christ? No. We use Him as the measure of worth, the standard for approval, the metric for performance. The good news is this, you are loved and accepted.
The idea that we can add or subtract from our own worth by adhering to rules more stringently is a misinformed notion. Activity does not change us. Nothing you do or don’t do makes you better. He makes you. He makes you better. He makes you something. We have to remember that hammering on behaviour takes the focus off of Him and places it on people – imperfect people. He is the author and finisher of my faith. I get to lean into His love, accept His reality, and rest in His goodness. A life of Godliness will flow from the time spent at His feet, because Salvation is an inside out transformation. Change is initiated inside us, by His goodness and love. A life of surrender follows.
He changes us. Grace changes us. His goodness leads us to repentance. It is not of ourselves (Ephesian 2) it is a gift in essence, so that we remain unable to boast in anything but Him. We have to keep our eyes on Him. Especially when it comes to other people. When you find yourself confronted with something you feel they might be doing wrong, keep your eyes on Him. Understand that if someone is saved and have the Spirit, you do not need to evangelize them. He is near to those who call him. If they call on Him, He will be near, regardless of how deserving we might think they are. We have to always bear in mind that our theology and works are not perfect, it is grossly unfair to expect others to adhere to a set of rules an limited understanding of Scriptures we possess in our own hearts and consciences have dictates to us to maintain.
I want to emphasise something controversial today, the shortcomings you see in others’ faith lives are insignificant, and very irrelevant to your Salvation. They are shadows, merely. They cannot dim His bright light. Do not allow them to distract you, or detract from the worth inherent in your brother. We feel worthy and deserving based on how well we behave. And from that perspective, we project our feelings of worthlessness onto others, and deem them unworthy based on what we discern to be inferior behaviour. Accusing people is the characteristic associated with the enemy, he is the accuser. Do not let your heart associate with behaviour unbecoming of love. Let the meditation in your heart, when you think of someone else, be acceptable to Him.
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:29, 31-32
Act according to His truth which says you are saved, loved and accepted. He is not far. He does not need convincing to choose you, He already loved you first. Love others, just choose Him, and choose them. Be kind. Be just, walk humbly, love mercy. He chose them, also. You get to enjoy seeing them alive, you get the amazing privilege of loving them, barring opinions.
