March 13 – You Can’t Do It
Galatians 2:16
“…yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” (Galatians 2:16)
Let’s say, hypothetically, that you committed a sin. Just a little one. Maybe you looked at someone with a little too much interest (let the reader understand). Now, imagine that we are justified by our works. What would you have to do to blot out that sinful act? Put a few extra dollars in the offering plate? Volunteer to do more at church? Start crossing yourself at every opportunity during the divine service? Maybe rub soap in your eyes? What is it going to take to pay off that sin debt? You committed four new sins since then!
You don’t have enough time or energy to justify yourself. It can’t be done. No matter how many good things you do to make up for the bad things, your sin will never be covered. You’ve misplaced your faith. Your faith belongs to the One who gave it to you in the first place. We trust in Him to cover our sins, to wrap us up in His righteousness, and to present us fully justified to the Father.
It is an act of pure mercy that we are righteous through faith alone. The only one who can live a sinless life did so, and He did it for you, because you simply can’t. There is no good work you can do that isn’t contaminated with your sin. Why bother, then? Because our neighbors need our good works! We do them with the confidence that Christ has forgiven us for trying to do what only He can.
Prayer: Most Merciful God, I thank You for covering my sin, and giving me the righteousness I did not earn. Amen.
