RIGHTNESS

noun: being in accord with divine or moral law; free from guilt or sin 

“God sets things right. He also makes it possible for us to live in his rightness.”  Romans 3:26

Oh. That’s all up to him?

But I have been trying so hard! Most of my life I’ve worked and struggled to do things right.

But I haven’t done a very good job. Haven’t even come close. None of us have.

No matter how self-disciplined or selfless, there is not one human who can perfectly follow the Ten Commandments and all the teachings of Jesus. Not one of us can live in the rightness of God by our own efforts. It really isn’t possible.

But the next two verses in this passage bring good news:

“…What we’ve learned is this: God does not respond to what we do; we respond to what God does. We’ve finally figured it out. Our lives get in step with God and all others by letting him set the pace, not by proudly or anxiously trying to run the parade.”

Pride and anxiety.

That’s what we end up with when we work to earn God’s love and salvation.

When we try to do it on our own.

When we don’t trust his forgiveness.

When we keep trying to be in charge.

He is fully aware of our weaknesses and selfishness, and our need for control. And he knows that we forget or ignore the truth that he has already taken care of our sinful hearts once and for all­. His Word reminds us often that his most precious gift to us–the sacrifice of his sinless, compassionate, obedient, faithful son– has made us bright and pure and clean in his eyes forever.

So, what if we let him take charge of our rightness?

What if we finally figure out that “God doesn’t respond to what we do, but we respond to what God does”?

What if in response to his love, we stop striving and simply rest and receive?

God brings us into rightness with him because of his compassion and mercy, not because of our ability to follow rules or avoid bad choices. He makes it possible for us to be right with him because he loves us.

 More deeply and purely and unconditionally than our hearts and minds can ever comprehend. No matter what.

 INVITE HIM IN

Thank him for making it possible. You can trust him to lead the parade of your life–the joyful and spirited, the tiring and messy, the stumbling, twirling route that is yours. He is in charge of your rightness, and he will bring you safely home.