And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. James 2:23
Even in the Old Testament God was crediting people with a righteousness that they could never earn through good works. Yet there are some who struggle with accepting God’s gift of righteousness. Some have turned their backs on the Christian faith and converted to another religion because they were so desperate to contribute something to their salvation. They couldn’t cope with coming to God with empty hands and a humble heart in the knowledge their righteous deeds were like filthy rags in the presence of a holy God (Isaiah 64:6).
We don’t earn our way into God’s family. He is a holy God, we are sinful people. God should have nothing to do with us. Yet, because of his grace, he sent Jesus so we could be part of his chosen people. It was an act of unmerited favour which we receive when we commit ourselves to God. He then makes a complete reversal in our circumstances. He puts us in a privileged position—that of being a favoured son or daughter of God. When we come to understand the extent of God’s grace towards us, we will feel humble and grateful, but it can also leave us feeling helpless and dependent. Grace makes us realize we aren’t as self-sufficient as we thought.
Selwyn Hughes, in Every Day with Jesus, wrote this: “There is something about human nature that makes us want to do something to remedy our spiritual deficiencies rather than trust in the grace and power of God.”
Let’s go against human nature, trust in the grace and power of God, and accept his gift of righteousness.
