Individual Responsibility
Many people feel like they are victims of what other people have done to them. Others feel like they can't succeed in life, because their parents did not do a good job of raising them. There are even some people who will never admit their own mistakes, because they are always trying to put the blame on others. The problem with all of that is that God is our Judge, and He holds us individually responsible for our lives and our sins. (Ezekiel 18:20) We will not be able to blame anyone for our sins or take credit for another person's righteousness.
The Bible is very clear that God looks at the heart. He does not judge by outward appearance or by other human ways of judging. He knows our motives and our words, as well as, all of our actions. He created right and wrong, so His standard of them is perfect, and we are judged by His standards, not ours. Therefore, if we are righteous because we know Christ as our Lord and Savior, and we are living as God's Word directs us, then, our righteousness will be what He sees. However, if we are unrighteous because we have rejected Christ, and we live by our own way, then, our wickedness will be what He sees. We must take personal responsibility for all of our attitudes, words, and actions. We must personally turn to Christ as Lord to cleanse us of our sins, and we must personally determine to live righteously in this world. Then, we can be sure God will deal with us, as individuals, very fairly.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ezekiel 22-25.
The Bible is very clear that God looks at the heart. He does not judge by outward appearance or by other human ways of judging. He knows our motives and our words, as well as, all of our actions. He created right and wrong, so His standard of them is perfect, and we are judged by His standards, not ours. Therefore, if we are righteous because we know Christ as our Lord and Savior, and we are living as God's Word directs us, then, our righteousness will be what He sees. However, if we are unrighteous because we have rejected Christ, and we live by our own way, then, our wickedness will be what He sees. We must take personal responsibility for all of our attitudes, words, and actions. We must personally turn to Christ as Lord to cleanse us of our sins, and we must personally determine to live righteously in this world. Then, we can be sure God will deal with us, as individuals, very fairly.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ezekiel 22-25.