Of Course I'm Right

Daily Reading: Proverbs 21

Scripture Focus:  Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice... No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord. (Proverbs 21.2-3, 30)

Devotional Thought:  Do you think you are right?  Of course you do!  We all do.  If we didn’t, we would change our minds!  Even in those instances where we say, “I know this isn’t right, but I am going to do it anyway because…” we are saying: “This wouldn’t be right for you, but in my present circumstances it is right.”  We justify ourselves.  That’s why it is so important to know what the Word of God says and subsequently to allow the Lord to weigh our hearts. 

Often when we seek to justify ourselves, we substitute religious observances for righteousness.  We “sacrifice” – give an offering, go to church, serve on a committee – instead of truly doing what we know to be right.  We are in essence trying to atone for our misdeeds by religious behavior.  The Lord is not interested in our outward acts of righteousness unless they are motivated by a true desire to be righteous and just.

At times, we are able to fool others – even ourselves! – through our religious behavior, but we cannot fool God.  There is no justification that we can offer, no experts we can quote, no logic to which we can appeal that will avail against the Truth.  Our society is attempting to do this very thing as we seek to justify more and more deviant behavior.  All the bluster, anger, and protests do not change the fact that God’s Word abides forever.

Those searching for peace and freedom won’t find it in shifting cultural mores.  Only the Truth will set us free.

Prayer: Help me, O Lord, to be honest and true in the assessment of my heart and life.  Then grant that I would be able to do what is right and just.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 12.1-8

1 Save, O LORD, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.

2 Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts,

4 those who say, "With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?"

5 "Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise," says the LORD; "I will place him in the safety for which he longs."

6 The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.

7 You, O LORD, will keep them; you will guard us from this generation forever.

8 On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man.