Daily Devotion - February 22, 2023

As he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17)

Duty and doctrine dispensed without grace can create only two possible human responses — human pride or despair. People will either think that they have checked off all the performance boxes that God requires or will despair that they ever can. 

Being good enough for God isn’t the message of the gospel. When the rich young ruler asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus immediately understood the implication of the young man’s question. He thought that he – a mere human – needed to do something good enough to inherit God’s kingdom. 

Jesus quickly reminded the man (and us), “Only God is good.” Thus, if our sole message to others (including our families), is merely to be good or, at least, be better than you have been, we are ultimately teaching them that they are God’s equals.

Only by God’s grace can we sinners stand before God without pride or despair, knowing that we are clothed in Jesus’ righteousness before a holy God.

So, trust Christ’s righteousness alone to make you good enough for God, and then show his goodness to others in how you love and live for him.

Prayer: Father, save me from pride or despair by rescuing me from the perspective that I have to be good enough to deserve your love. Then, help me to teach others to trust your grace by how I love and live for you.