In my
mind I think “Well, I’m not as bad as so-in-so.”  But God doesn’t grade on the curve and deem
me good or bad based on others’ performance. 
God’s standard is Jesus.

 

I think
I have a pretty good reputation for following Jesus.  But God doesn’t care about my reputation.  He cares about what’s in my heart and He sees
every nook and cranny.  While I truly love
God and love others, it would be scary to connect a projector to my brain and
broadcast every thought.  You’d see judgment,
envy, impatience, selfishness, self righteousness, disgust, and hypocrisy.  You get the point.  I’m no Jesus.

 

Standing
in God’s presence demands perfection and that’s impossible.  While I’m not that bad, I’m far from
perfect.  So why try to be good?  If I’m doomed from the start, why not just
give up?  That’s the whole point of the
cross! My efforts don’t matter one
bit.  Jesus died in my place so His blood
already washed away my sin and pre-qualified
me to stand in God’s presence.  Jesus has
done it.  The only appropriate response
to this gift is to love and forgive others. 
Bonus scripture:  1 John 4:19 – We
love each other because He loved us first.

 

All I
have to do is humble myself, admit I need saving and believe that Jesus has
already done it.