We continued our Victory Over Self series this week with part 4 – Victory Over Self-Righteousness. I certainly am glad to have an extra week to chew on this one as I could see my name written all over this lesson! Kathy began by describing our vicious cycle of trying harder in our own efforts and how we can simply choose to trust the finished work at the cross instead. So, do that.
Ha! Gotcha, didn’t I? Yes, trusting in the finished work at the cross is an option for us, but we all know it is much easier said than done. BUT, can’t you get a vision for what that rest would feel like? Doesn’t your heart fill to overflowing with peace as you do the mental exchange of the performance treadmill for the cross?!
Self-Righteousness (SR) keeps us on that treadmill. To get off and learn to trust we must first recognize that it is present in our lives. Kathy described several different types of SR and what they might look like. (1) Dog Show Righteousness – interested in appearances and what others think (2) Do It Yourself Righteousness – relying on human effort rather than on the work of Christ (3) Dogmatic Righteousness – rigid, inflexible, narrow…elevating traditions of man above the Word of God (4) Deplorable Righteousness – inferior, pitiful, wretched…rule-keeping over relationship.
We can have victory over self-righteousness! We have 3 Tools & Techniques to help us rejoice in the finished work of Jesus (T&T: Embracing Righteousness), re-focus on the internal rather than our external (T&T: Dismantling Fear of Man, T&T: Liberation), and receive from the Lord. Take some time over the next two weeks to thoroughly utilize these tools to renew your mind and build trust.
030811VICTORIOUS LIVING 13 Outline
030811VICTORIOUS LIVING 13 Worksheet
TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES embracing righteousness2
TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES liberation2
TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES dismantling fear of man2
Podcast: Download (Duration: 55:25 — 50.7MB)
Bless us in these trying times. Amen. From the other room, my Younger Teen yleeld: Go to bed! Just a moment ago. Sigh. True words this evening, ygw. Another prayer I should be repeating. Thanks. I think. Just teasing. I’ve had a share of other-parent-angst myself. I told my husband nice people, but they make decisions like teenagers. Not giving them the privilege of deciding which movie again. Ooops. Should be praying. Nite. Barbara