Joshua 24:19
But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins.”
Apart from the grace of God, we are unable to serve the Lord. The motivations of the heart are not toward holiness and righteousness, but they are deceitful and filled with pride, selfishness, and unbelief.
In our longing to justify ourselves, we deny God’s holiness; we reconstruct God in our own image rather than looking to Him and acknowledging His Lordship. We compare ourselves to those around us rather than to Christ. We long to make and create idols rather than beholding God and His awesome glory! Instead of looking to God and humbly requesting, “Show us Your glory!” we scream to the Lord from our Tower of Babel, “See my glory!”
Look to the cross. Gaze upon Christ. He who knew no sin became sin for us so that in Him we might have the righteousness of God. God has given us His Son so that we may come before Him, and Christ has sent the Holy Spirit by the will of the Father to His people to change their hearts.
God, apart from any work of man, has established for Himself a chosen race, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that we may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light. We are not able to do anything apart from God, but in Christ, we are more than conquerors for His glory and our good.
Romans 3:10, Isaiah 40:9, Exodus 33:18, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:9, John 15:5, Romans 8:37
Father, You have given me everything; You have given me Your only Son. Who am I? Why would You choose me and be mindful of me and think of me? I am unable to serve You apart from Your Holy Spirit. I have tried. I have worked to show my righteous deeds, and they are but filthy rags. Help me rest in Your grace and Your goodness, and strengthen me to do Your will all the days of my life. Help my heart to rest in Christ alone. In Christ’s name. Amen