Nothing but Filthy Rags

It was a full day from beginning to end, Father. I am weary but pray that the words given to me will touch someone right where they are at. Amen.

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But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. Matthew 3:7-10 NLT

Wow! Reading what John had to say to the religious leaders of his day makes me take a step back! His demeanor was as rough as his camel’s hair clothing. His words were scathing, and he sure didn’t sugarcoat it. He laid it all out and they, within just a few moments, knew exactly what he thought about them.

Some time ago in a Bible study of which I was a part, we discussed people of “religion”, if you will. Many in the church feel that they have the bases covered because they are so diligent in following the rules and regulations. There are even those that feel their eternal destiny is secure because their daddy was a believer and his daddy before him and so forth and so on. But John made it very clear that none of those things proved anything.

The prophet Isaiah counted himself among us when he proclaimed,

When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Isaiah 64:6b NLT

Nothing we are, nothing we can say, nothing we can do is worth anything regarding our standing before God – it is all worthless. The only thing that is worth anything is when we turn from our way and give ourselves over to God’s way. John the Baptist calls to us as well,

“Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.” Matthew 3:8 NLT

We cannot earn our salvation by our deeds – that is a gift from God alone – but we must show by our deeds that salvation has taken place.

Lord Jesus, I am grateful that You have offered me salvation. It was at great cost to You – your very life. You gave Your life when mine should have been forfeit – my sins should have resulted in my death. But You took my place. Lord… may I “prove by the way [I] live” that I have turned from my sinful ways and turned to You. May my life be living proof of that relationship. Amen.

(Sept 26^th, 2017, Tues, 6:47 am)
Sept 29^th, 2022, Thurs, 5:28 pm