Fair or Foul

Many of you perhaps will disagree with me and feel betrayed if you are a woman, but when I hear all the clamor for equal pay for equal work I get real agitated. When someone uses the gender card to get attention or to make a point, I want to shout, "Count me out!"

Females who get upset, and make a scene because they don't earn what their male counterparts earn, cause a huge resentment to form in my heart. While I am not saying that I this isn't a valid issue, what I am saying is -- don't speak for me. Don't generalize and assume that I am going to get on your bandwagon and cause a riot.

Romans 3:10-11 (NIV)
As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.

What is fair to you may not be an issue for me. So much in this world isn't fair, because of our fallen nature. Sin divides and causes us to question things that don't require questioning. No one earns what they are worth. Some of us deserve more because our work ethic is strong and unwavering. Others of us deserve less because we don't give our all in everything we do. It isn't because we are male or female. That is just the way it is.

Romans 3:19 (MSG)
This makes it clear, doesn't it, that whatever is written in these Scriptures is not what God says about others but to us to whom these Scriptures were addressed in the first place! And it's clear enough, isn't it, that we're sinners, every one of us, in the same sinking boat with everybody else? 

We all want to be treated with fairness.  We all want to receive what we are due. Let's be sure we are actually worthy, by examining motives and judging ourselves.

Romans 3:9-20

No one is righteous

13 March 

Read Romans 3:9-20 and reflect on the passage.

Ask the average Person, “do you think you’ll go to heaven?” Usually, the response is, “Sure, I’m a good person and I do good things too.” As we are told by St. Paul in this reading, none of us are righteous through our own efforts. Even in Matthew 7:22-23 Jesus said, “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

So how do we become righteous so Jesus will know us? It starts with setting our heart on Jesus. Like a best friend, we enter into a personal relationship with Him. Through our repentance and belief in Jesus as our Lord, we open our hearts to let the Holy Spirit flow through us. The Holy Spirit will provide the wisdom and revelation in Jesus so we can understand him with great intimacy. Open your heart to let Jesus consume you with love, and then use His love to love other people. In this way, Jesus makes us righteous.

Questions

1. Have you opened your heart to let Jesus love you, so you can love others?

2. In Proverbs 4:20, Solomon talks about protecting your heart. Are you guarding your heart from evil thoughts and replacing them with God’s Word and love?

Prayer

Jesus, thank You for Your amazing love for me. With Your love, I set my heart on You and others. Let Your will be done.

—Thomas Denegre