April 2 ~ Minimum Standards
We all have personal requirements, things we cannot live without. Usually we associate with others who share the same values or standards. On any given day, we will hear people mumble, grumble and complain because of how their expectations are not met and why. We don't like the way someone else drives, too fast and aggressive or too slow, etc. We go to a restaurant and we either like it or we don't, based on our minimum standards. There are even inspectors who have legal standards to measure how clean they are and how fastidious they are about handling foods and keeping them at proper temperatures, etc.
When I lived up in the northern part of the USA, cars were subjected to yearly inspections to measure their braking capacity, emissions and body rust. These states had codes which set minimum standards for the vehicles on the road. These minimum standards were set by the legal authorities and enforced. If you didn't have a current valid sticker on your vehicle, you were subject to disciplinary actions, fines etc. Everywhere we go, we will find minimum standards. We call them rules and regulations. We may not like them but they are there all the same. In my area, if you don't cut your grass and it grows beyond a certain length, the local authorities will have it cut and send you a bill for it. Why? to maintain a certain minimum standard.
When we look into the Bible, we find the same thing. God has a minimum standard as well. We can argue about where it is set all day long. We can look at the people in the Old and New Testaments and argue that often the standard was pretty darn low. Murderers wrote major parts of the bible. Moses, Paul and others. David was a man whose life was littered with major wrongdoings and assassinations. Joshua and his armies look like the terrorists of their day. How do you wrap your head around all that? Once a woman told me that the Old Testament was off limits for her because of what it contained. "High Crimes and Murder" are not for me she declared!
So what is God's minimum standard? How can any of us hope to have any involvement with him?
14 “What is man, that he could be pure? And he who is born of a woman, that he could be righteous? 15 If God puts no trust in His saints, And the heavens are not pure in His sight, 16 How much less man, who is abominable and filthy, Who drinks iniquity like water!
Study man all you want and you will find this to be so. No one meets God's minimum standard. What we would call "innocent", God calls impure. His standards are perfect. His requirements are perfection. He settles for nothing less. Our problem is that we may agree and then wonder: "Why then, doesn't God deal with everything that is not up to his standards? Especially when it affects my life and the space I'm living in?" We are so quick to exclude the one in the mirror. We forget what the Psalmist declared:
3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
You wouldn't make it and neither would I. One thought, one word, one deed and we are disqualified. God's minimum standard is that high. All this mindset of "everyone should be like me" and if they were, all would be better and all right" won't do with God. If they were all like you or me, we would still all be lost and without any hope. As a matter of fact, we are all like you and me; that is the problem. If God were to enforce His law today, there would be no chance to comment afterwards like on "Judge Judy"!! Our Mouths would be shut. We would be totally convicted and convinced he was right; Hopelessly guilty before him. The Psalmist continues however:
4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. 5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
On what basis will this forgiveness be given? Will God just blink at our sin and then pick favorites among men? Absolutely not!! He looks on his son and the death that he died and all who agree with his assessments and judgments are forgiven and healed.
22 He (Jesus Christ) committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
7 O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. 8 And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
God's minimum standard is his son and his finished work on the cross. Won't you put away your self righteous fussiness and pride and receive his marvelous grace. Won't you put down your love for self and your sin and receive his redemptive mercy and love. Won't you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as your own savior today? He bore your sins on that tree, believe and receive him.
Lord Jesus, help that one today who needs you so desperately. Show them how to take the step into personal redemption and forgiveness. Encourage their hearts to agree with your minimum standards and not their own. We ask and pray for each one reading this. Show them yourself and your mercy. Amen!!!
(P.S. If for the first time, you did receive Christ, after reading this post, let me know! Thanks)
