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[imageeffect type="shadowreflection" align="aligncenter" width="542" alt="So Short Its Ugly" link="https://www.tworiversassembly.com/tworiversassembly2014/2013/02/04/so-short-its-ugly/" url="http://tworiversblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/top-of-monument-in-dark.jpg?w=640&h=426" ]

So Short Its Ugly

Read: Exodus 19:16-21:21, Matthew 23:13-39, Psalm 28:1-9, Proverbs 7:1-5

Then God gave the people all these instructions: (Exodus 20:1)

Relate: Spiritual checklist time. Its a 10 question survey and I’m going to see how well I’ve been doing at following God’s instructions. Feel free to do it along with me.

Top of monument in dark

1) “You must not have any other god before me.” At first blush I’m going OK. But I have to ask, when trouble pops up, where is my hope and reliance. More than that, on what am I spending most of my time and money. As much as my intellect says God is first and only, my hope and my worship say otherwise. I’m 0-1

2) “You must not bow down to them or serve any images” As fun as it would be to go off on this one the day after every single person worshiped at the altar of the flat screen to pay homage to the Super Bowl I won’t. I’m going to give myself this one. 1-2

3) “You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God.” I… yah. 1-3

4) “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” I tend to extremes. I went a two and a half month stretch without a day off. I’ve also gone weeks on end when I’m not working even when I am at work. There is no balance. 1-4

5) “Honor your father and mother.” Two words: Teen years. 1-5

6) “You must not murder.” I got this one… but no. Jesus said if I have anger without just cause then I’m guilty of murder in my heart. 1-6

7) “You must not commit adultery.” Again Jesus said if I have lusted I’m guilty of this one. Jesus wasn’t just perfect, he had to go and raise the bar on the rest of us. (And did I just break #3… again?) 1-7

8) “You must not steal.” 1-8 (No story necessary)

9) “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.” I’ve never told a lie. (cough, cough) 1-9

10) “You must not be jealous of your neighbors stuff.” 1-10. Did I pass? What’s the curve?

React: Lets be honest. I fell, and I continue to fall short. Not just a little. I’m so short its ugly. Even worse, a passing grade on this test in 100. I’m one for ten and that one is actually debatable. God has set a standard of righteousness that I cannot possibly meet. The fact is, when I think of myself I’m a good person. When I compare myself with others, I’m doing quite well. But most of us usually are in our own eyes. Even Hitler and Stalin probably felt that they were pretty good guys. But the fact is, my righteousness puts me a lot closer to Hitler on the scale than it does to Jesus. That is why I am glad that God gave me His righteousness when He carried my sin to the cross. My sin is so ugly, but His grace is so amazing.

Respond: [videoembed type=”youtube” width=”600″ height=”400″ url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDDlxmsciqY” id=”0″]

God, I thank You for Your grace. I’m humbled. I am so undeserving, but You died. For me. There are no words that can show my gratitude. Take my life instead.