We all like to be able to measure how we are doing. That is why most companies set goals and then measure their progress against their ambitions. In relationships, we want to have clear signals regarding how we are perceived or regarded by individuals or groups to which we relate or belong. The same is true when it comes to God and our relationship and standing with him. What is the best way to measure our status with God?
The Law of Moses gave clear standards by which individuals and the nation could judge. It the people kept God’s laws, they were blessed. If they disobeyed them, they came under judgment. How unnerving it must have been when Moses told the nation that they would utterly abandon God in the days ahead. (Deuteronomy 31:29)
God made it clear that it is not in us to be able to keep his righteous requirements. We will never be able to measure up! That is why the old covenant, the Law of Moses, had to be replaced by a new one, which is not based on our performance at all.
Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.” Galatians 2:16 (NLT)
Nevertheless, there is something in us that desperately wants to be good enough on our own, even after being justified in God’s sight by faith in Christ’s completed work. We fight against any notion that this is an impossible dream. Nevertheless, as long as we hold on to the illusion of being able to be good enough to please God, we will never discover the really good news that we don’t have to be.
Because Jesus was good enough, we do not have to be. Because he met every standard of measured righteousness, we are not subject to being measured. When we put our faith in Christ, we were given Christ’s perfect right standing with God, which is called justification. We don’t always appear righteous or act as we should, but who is measuring? Not God. Nor should we.
Once we stop worrying about measuring up, we are able to simply live a life of joyful service to the Lord and others.
What a relief when we stop trying to measure our standing with God and fully accept what Christ has done for us!
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28–30 (NLT)
