"Reality Check"

"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away" ~ Isaiah 64:6

The word ALL, mentioned three times in the verse above, is just like the pounding of the Lord's gavel shown in the picture. It hits hard, and with it comes the striking reminder that we are guilty as charged before Him. It doesn't matter how many righteous things we have done or how good we fancy ourselves compared to others, our case is hopeless as we stand before the Righteous Judge who is fair and just. Yet, it doesn't stop many in the world, including some believers, from thinking they can earn their place in heaven by being "good enough". This leads to arrogance when we do well and bitter shame when we slip up. Neither is what the Lord wants for us. So, we need a "Reality Check". This week at Friendship, we'll dig into Romans 3 and consider what the Spirit wants to teach us through the words of Paul about realizing our own utter sinfulness and need for a Savior. While this may knock our pride down a bit, it makes us that much more ready to embrace Jesus as our atoning sacrifice!