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Daily Devotion: Proverbs 20:9-11

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Proverbs 20:9-11    "Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?  (10)  Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.  (11)  Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right."

Solomon was inspired by God to ask some tough questions. Even as I type, I am tempted to ask him, "Why did you not always follow the things of which you wrote?" I'm tempted to ask him that, but then in my heart I know I fall very short of the righteousness of God. Misery loves company; therefore, I add "There are none that do good; no, not one." The truth of the matter is that we all start on even ground. We all are born with that sin nature which was inherited from Adam. I can't blame Adam for my sin, but it was through him that I received the sinful nature. So now I have to ask, "Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?"  If I were leaning toward the answer of saying, "I do the best I can," -- I'm afraid that would not always be true.  If I am tempted to say that I'm a pretty good person, then I have to ask, "By what standard am I measuring myself?" If I use the standard of Adolph Hitler, then I could say, "I'm a pretty good person."  But then Solomon had to go and add that "even a child is known by his doings..."  In other words, I can talk big of myself, but my actions do not always back up my words.

But other people are not the standard by which I am weighed. God hates divers weights and divers measures, or wrong standards by which we measure ourselves. There is one standard that is acceptable unto God. His name is Jesus. I assure you that when I compare myself to Jesus, I am found way below standard. I have one consolation and that is my righteousness is not based upon me; rather, I have been given the righteousness of Jesus Christ. That is the balancing of the scales. Now, my desire is that my "doings will be more pure in reflecting the righteousness of Christ.

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