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MATTHEW 19- GOOD DEEDS

“Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” Matthew 19:16

“Good people” are extremely valued in our community. Honesty and transparency are favorable traits and are often appreciated amongst our peers. Good deeds such as giving your time and money to the needy are commendable and often applauded.

Although these good works are noble and garner our society’s respect, they fall short of what God deems sufficient to inherit God’s kingdom. In fact, God states that “none are righteous,” that even the best works we can perform “are like filthy rags.”

Why, may you ask? Because, in exchange for eternal life in heaven, God demands perfection. Something that was exclusively found in God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

CHALLENGE

Do you believe you are a good person? Good enough for God to let you into His kingdom? Sadly, being good is not sufficient, and your best works towards man are insufficient to secure heaven in the afterlife.

My friend, there is nothing we can do to earn heaven. All the work that needed to be done has ALREADY been done on the cross of Calvary.

Therefore, what we can do is come before the Lord with a humble heart, confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, and then, and only then, we can inherit the kingdom of God.

[Eugene Estes]

A profound spiritual truth concerning human virtue and salvation is presented in Matthew 19. A man approaches Jesus in the chapter and inquires as to what good deed he must perform in order to receive eternal life. Many people’s attitudes today are reflected in this question. Being a good person is sufficient to gain recognition and rewards, as society frequently teaches. Honesty, charity, kindness, and helping those in need are admirable. These deeds are beneficial for fostering communities and enhancing the lives of others. This devotional’s challenge, however, highlights the fact that even the greatest human efforts fall short of God’s flawless standard.
The Bible says that perfection and holiness are necessary for God’s kingdom. Human effort is insufficient in this situation. No matter how good a person is, they are still imperfect and sinful. Scripture states that no one is genuinely righteous for this reason. Good deeds are admirable, but they cannot atone for sin or purify the heart. Many people believe that leading a moral life will get them into paradise, but God requires a pure and holy nature in addition to good deeds. It is evident that salvation cannot be achieved by deeds since humanity cannot accomplish this on its own.
The devotional emphasizes that only Jesus Christ was flawless. He lived a spotless life, and what humanity could never achieve was accomplished by His death on the cross. His death and resurrection had already finished the work required for salvation. This implies that faith and submission to Christ, rather than performance, are the keys to eternal life.
Therefore, everyone is called to humility by the challenge. It challenges people to put their faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior rather than in their own goodness. Confessing one’s need for God’s grace and accepting what Christ has already accomplished is the first step toward true redemption.

[Logan Krape]

I have struggled a lot when asking myself if I’m good enough for God. I think there is always more I could be doing and ways I can change my actions to live a more Christ-like lifestyle. I feel like I’m guaranteed failure every day to be good enough for God. What I can find reassuring in that, though, is that his love for me is unlike any other love. He made all of us different, but he also made all of us through his image. Yes, we are called to live a life like Christ, which is perfection, but I can’t name one single person I know who lives a perfect life. We will all face our own issues and make mistakes, but we are made to make mistakes; that’s just what we do as humans. Although I strive to be perfect, knowing that I’m not is what will make me never feel like I’m enough. It’s always been a challenge that I have faced, and even through my works, I know that I will still sin. Nothing I do can make up for the mistakes I make, other than God, who was so generous to forgive us for our sins.

[Kanthony]

Yes, we have to remember that Jesus is perfect. We just have to strive to be. God loves us and knows our hearts.

[Author]

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