After the LORD your God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, “The LORD has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness.” No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is going to drive them out before you. Deuteronomy 9:4
Moses is giving a warning to the people for when the get into the land of Canaan. As they go in there will be many enemies that have to be driven out. God will work on driving each of those enemies out. Once the enemies are out, the Israelites must not think that they were given that land because of their own righteousness. God drove the enemy out because of their sin, not the Israelites righteousness.
As a human being it is easy to compare yourself to other people. You may look at your life and see how much more like Jesus you are than someone else. Once that happens, it becomes very easy to believe that the blessings you have are because of what you have done.
You must remember that Isaiah said that your righteousness is as filthy rags. Paul said that you are to put on the righteousness of Jesus, not your own.
You are not saved or blessed because of what you have done or how good of a person you are. You are saved by the grace and mercy of God and the righteousness of Jesus.
When things are going good for you and the abundant blessings are flowing in your life, always remember that it is God’s doing because of His love and grace, not what you have done. Do not allow pride to get in the way. Pride is what took Satan down, and it will take you down also.
Remember that as easy as it is for God to give you the land, He can also take it away. It is not about you, but about God.
Give God all the glory for all the blessings He has given you. Give God praise for the enemies He removes out of your way.
I pray today that you will see the hand of God in all that you have; that you will see the power of God in removing the enemy in your life; that you will know it is not your righteousness, but that of Jesus that did the works; and that you will put on the righteousness of Jesus.
I NEED to be reminded of the Gospel EVERY DAY, because the Gospel reminds me that it was MY sin which nailed Jesus to the Cross. He died for me, not because I am “good”, but because I am NOT “good”.
Amen! I also need that reminder daily. I think all of us do.