Sunday on Monday - June 29th, 2026
Yesterday we looked at Romans 9:32–10:4 and saw the tragedy of Israel’s unbelief. Israel had the Law. They had zeal. They had religious effort. But they missed the righteousness God provides because they tried to establish their own righteousness instead of receiving God’s righteousness by faith.
That danger is not limited to Israel. It is in all of us.
Our default setting is an earning mentality: “Tell me what to do. Tell me what standard to meet. Let me prove that I belong.” But the gospel says something very different: “You cannot earn the righteousness you need. Jesus has done what you could never do. Receive it by faith.”
That is why Paul says, “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4). Jesus is the goal and fulfillment of the Law. He fulfilled what we could not fulfill. He took our sin at the cross, and His righteousness is counted to everyone who believes.
So this week, pay attention to where you are tempted to climb the ladder of self-righteousness. Are you trying to prove yourself to God? Are you measuring your worth by your performance? Are you relying on your sincerity, morality, service, or sacrifice?
Good works matter. Obedience matters. Holiness matters. But none of those things can make us right with God.
We do not work for God’s acceptance; we work from God’s acceptance.
When you recognize an earning mentality, don’t stop doing the good things. Stop using them as a way to prove yourself to God.
Confess the motive, look to Jesus, and remind yourself, “I am fully accepted because of Jesus, not because of my performance.” Then keep obeying, serving, giving, and pursuing holiness. Good works become healthy when they flow from gratitude, not from anxiety.
Jesus will either be the stone you stumble over or the Rock you stand on. I pray you stand on Jesus!
