Righteousness – Brian Friedl https://brianfriedl.com Making Your Life's Mission Possible Sat, 17 Mar 2018 09:37:08 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.3.17 64732294 The Power Of Grace https://brianfriedl.com/the-power-of-grace/ https://brianfriedl.com/the-power-of-grace/#comments Wed, 15 Nov 2017 12:49:04 +0000 http://brianfriedl.com/the-power-of-grace/ There’s no question that grace is powerful. For we know that where sin abounds grace abounds all the more. By grace we have been saved, this is not something that we have earned, but instead a beautiful gift from Our Father in heaven.

While we remember grace’s power to save, we often forget it’s power to instruct us. As we reflect on the cross, our disdain towards sin multiplies and grace raises in us a desire to deny our flesh and all its lusts. Not only that, but It sets a fire under us to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly manner.

Grace by its nature was designed to rescue and lead us to godly living. If you think of grace and guilt rushes in, you’re missing something. Let grace have its full power in you. Let it be your rescuer and instructor that spurs you to Living for Christ!

Reflection

Name all the things Grace can do in this passage.

Have you seen Grace do these things in your life?

Have you surrender to God and allowed His grace to instruct you? If not, do so today!

Prayer

Father, Your grace is sufficient for us in Christ. Thank you for its power to save and its power to instruct us. Remind us every moment of the victory won by our Savior at the cross. Renew in us a desire to be taught by grace. May it lead to righteousness in Jesus, Amen!

]]> https://brianfriedl.com/the-power-of-grace/feed/ 4 1485 How Do I Measure Up? https://brianfriedl.com/how-do-i-measure-up/ Thu, 13 Jul 2017 10:48:34 +0000 http://brianfriedl.com/how-do-i-measure-up/ For years I was able to look good on the outside.  “Managing” my sin while appearing like the well behaved child.  I believed what I was doing was right and certainly better than most if not all who I knew. (Yes I was prideful and arrogant)

This worked well until I was introduced to God’s standard. Suddenly, I was no longer a superstar. Instead, I couldn’t measure up, as hard as I tried. It all came to a head as I listened to the gospel being shared when I was 15yrs old. My world crashed and I realized clearly that I needed Christ so I surrendered my life to Him. 

If our standard goes no further than ourselves, we will falsely think we are good.  We can see a clear picture of our heart,who we are, and our need of Jesus, only when we view ourselves in light of God’s law.  It’s part of His plan for us to see that we come up empty. We must see our need for His wonderful Savior.  Only then can we receive Christ who does measure up and meet every standard.  For His heart is pure and His righteousness is excellent!

Reflection

Who/what standard do you compare yourself to?

If the answer is self or others, your standard isn’t high enough.  God has given us the standard of His law in His word.  

In what ways have you or are you currently trying to measure up to His standard in your own strength?

Can you see that you are left lacking?  Do you see your need for a Savior?

Rejoice out loud for what Christ has done!

Prayer

Father, Your standard is Holy and righteous; perfection at its finest. For though we cannot achieve it, Jesus perfectly satisfied every part by His finished work at the cross.  We rejoice that You have made a way for us to enter into relationship with You!  Moreover, you have made us Your sons and daughters!  We have the Holy Spirit living in us testifying to our adoption!  Our lips will never cease praising You in the name of Christ, Amen!

]]> 1357 My Sin, My Need, My Savior https://brianfriedl.com/my-sin-my-need-my-savior/ Wed, 12 Apr 2017 13:52:05 +0000 http://brianfriedl.com/my-sin-my-need-my-savior/ It has been said that until we understand the depths of our sin, we cannot fully see the need and power of our Savior. This was certainly true for me. 

I spent the early part of my life trying to be a good person and convinced myself that I was. I was often called a perfectionist because of my high standard for everything I put my hand to.  It didn’t matter if it was my artwork, my schoolwork, or my self-perceived goodness. 

I excelled far beyond every standard I had been given, until one evening in August of 1989, when I heard about a new standard.  One of absolute perfection; God’s standard of righteousness. Not only could I not meet it, but I had already broken every aspect of it.  

More difficult than my inability to keep the standard, was the consequence of my sin and rather than having to endure that unbearable weight, there was One who took the full weight upon Himself.  For a guy who had shut out the entire world and all of the emotions with it, I was overtaken by grief and gratitude. 

In that moment, the LORD revealed to me:

  • My sin
  • My need
  • My Savior

While faith grows, it is built on those foundational truths that were secured in the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus.  I am forever grateful for His perfect plan that brought me to a place of worship and understanding by letting me feel the weight of my sin and likewise that burden lifted.  

Reflection

Do you remember understanding the weight of your sin and your need of your Savior for the first time? 

Think back to the moment you grasped the finished work at the cross that has been done for you and just meditate on that for a moment. 

This should not be a once a year activity on Easter.  Instead, make it a point to daily praise God for the wonderful freedom you enjoy through the wonderful finished work of His Son at the cross.  

Prayer

Father, you alone have the power to rescue and lift us from the hopeless graves we have comfortably dwelt in.  Open our eyes to our sin, our need, and our Savior each and every day that we may present our bodies as a living sacrifice to You in Jesus’ name. Amen!

]]> 1232 The Problem Of Injustice https://brianfriedl.com/the-problem-of-injustice/ https://brianfriedl.com/the-problem-of-injustice/#comments Fri, 17 Mar 2017 09:31:16 +0000 http://brianfriedl.com/the-problem-of-injustice/ Everywhere we look, we can find what appears to be injustice. Perhaps it’s a drunk driver who survives while all his passengers are lost, or someone less deserving got the promotion, or maybe your husband or wife treats everyone else wonderful but not you.  You body burns with indignation and your lips want to scream, “It’s not fair!”.

The first truth we need to understand is that justice doesn’t always happen immediately.  Instead, it happens in the timing and context of God’s perfect will.  Justice can be served quickly, but often we might feel that it is delayed longer than we think it should be.  This could be because God is not willing that any should perish and His grace draws even our accusers and abusers to Himself.

Secondly, where we would seek punishment, He desires repentance. Being rich in mercy, He has offered the most miserable of sinners the greatest gift of grace.  Would we really want God to operate as we do?  Where would we be ourselves, if God only sought punishment? Not in a good place for sure!

Lastly, vengeance is not ours but god’s.  Our focus needs to be on Him, which in turn, brings forth Thanksgiving, testimony, and praise.  These three are well within your grasp and authority.  When we trust God is the perfect balance of Grace and justice, we are truly free to worship Him as He deserves!

Reflection

What injustice is distracting your worship of God?

What would happen if you let go of that injustice and clung tightly to our Father in heaven?

Rather than vengeance make your life about thanksgiving, testimony, and praise. For the problem of injustice is that it distracts us from our worship and enjoyment of our Father in heaven.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are all knowing. For only You can judge rightly.  By Your Spirit, we ask the You would empower us to trust in Your justice and perfect will.  You will bring down the stronghold of our enemies in Your time.  You will break the greatest of enemies to pieces and all will one day know you as LORD; whether as an enemy or Your child.   Use our perceived injustice to demonstrate Your grace, teach us who You are, and carry out your mission.  Let us be focused on You and our worship be unhindered. Fill us with thankfulness, testimony, and praise, in the power of Christ, Amen!

]]> https://brianfriedl.com/the-problem-of-injustice/feed/ 5 1210 A Love That Leads https://brianfriedl.com/a-love-that-leads/ Wed, 04 Jan 2017 12:59:50 +0000 http://brianfriedl.com/a-love-that-leads/ Have you ever thought about loving God as a commandment? When someone commands us to do something , sometimes there is something inside of us(our flesh) that causes us to want to say “No!”. We feel that our rights and freedoms have been infringed upon. 

What if that commandment is born out of love? It may or may not inspire us to obey  As a parent there are times where I’ve had to give commands for the benefit of my children though they may not see it that way.  

His commandments are the ultimate framework for the best life in relationships with God and man.  He commands us to love Him and others because He knows that’s what will glorify Him, bring us joy, and draw others to Himself. 

In light of all He has done, I willingly choose to obey this commandment.  For I owe everything to Him.  But there is even more love at work.  For as hard as I try I cannot keep the commandments perfectly and they clearly point out my shortcomings.  

Our Father in heaven has already made provision for this. With a love so great, While we had broken His commands, He rescued us through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus.  This kind of love leads us to new places of worship, loving Him, and loving others.  This kind of love leads us to righteousness.  Not our righteousness in our own strength, but Christ’s righteous imputed to us by faith.  

#truthtalk4life #knowlivespeaktruthinlove

Make sure to share and add these hashtags above.  
@brianfriedl 
Note: All Bible quotes are taken from the New American Standard Bible offered by youversion.com unless otherwise stated.

]]> 995 A Heart Of Obedience https://brianfriedl.com/a-heart-of-obedience/ https://brianfriedl.com/a-heart-of-obedience/#comments Sun, 18 Dec 2016 12:20:28 +0000 http://brianfriedl.com/a-heart-of-obedience/
There is a stinging truth that our pride often prevents us from seeing the depths of wickedness in our hearts. We make light of our sin and the sacrifice that was made to atone for it. We think of ourselves more highly than we ought. 
Sometimes we even intentionally sin ignoring the magnitude of the Lord’s sacrifice reducing the cross to an unlimited get out of jail free card. It is true that where sin abounds grace abounds all the more; however, Paul said in Romans:

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be…”  ~ Romans 6:1-2a NASB

God sees our heart for what it is and longs for it to be pure like His. He desires our heart to overflow with righteousness and justice out of a love and devotion for Him.  Our hearts were designed to love and worship Him!  

What sin in your life continues to promise life but keeps delivering death?   

Confess that sin before God today, turn from to Your Father in heaven, and know that what He has provided in Christ is all you need. 

Pray today that the minds of our brothers and sisters as well as ours would be rightly fixed on Jesus Christ, that we would humbly see our hearts as they truly are, and that we would realize our desperate need for Him. For He is our love, He is our justice, and He is our righteousness. 
@brianfriedl 

#truthtalk4life

]]> https://brianfriedl.com/a-heart-of-obedience/feed/ 2 942 Praise Marathon https://brianfriedl.com/praise-marathon/ Fri, 05 Aug 2016 13:21:09 +0000 http://brianfriedl.com/praise-marathon/ We must never forget that our access to the Father was initiated and secured by His love through His Son, Jesus Christ.  As we walk and experience His blessing, it’s not long before we are tempted to think we are “doing a good job” and soon after we go back to trying to carry out righteousness in our own strength. 

The Psalmist humbly and rightly understands that His access was granted to Him by the LORD’s lovingkindness and thereby bows in reverence. 

Personal Reflection

When was the last time you went on a praise marathon?  Maybe never?  What I mean by that is focusing on what to praise God for and praising him every time you remember throughout the day.  You could even set up a reminder on your smartphone, calendar or have someone call you every hour to remind you.  This day will be a day of praise!

Try this for one day and post the results in the comments.  Can’t wait to hear what you praised Him for and any ways God has affected you through this. 

Prayer Focus

Gracious Father, you are the victor over all darkness. By Your great love our debt has been paid through Your Son Christ and You have made us Your children for all eternity.  Our lips could never praise You enough.  Fix our eyes and teach our hearts to bow and revere You as you deserve.  Let us never forget the victory You have won in our hearts for Your glory.  We praise You in the Name of Jesus, Amen!

#truthtalk4life

@brianfriedl

]]> 816 When Do I Get My Reward? https://brianfriedl.com/when-do-i-get-my-reward/ Sat, 23 Jul 2016 12:48:42 +0000 http://brianfriedl.com/when-do-i-get-my-reward/   
I grew  up as a people pleaser, I admit it!  Something about seeing smiles on faces and hearing the words,”Well done!” that gave me a sense of worth and accomplishment. 

Later in life as God continued to mature me, I realized that this was all an outflow of my pride.  My “good” was not fit to be counted as righteousness apart from Christ. God defines my value not man 

I concluded that like finances, you can spend your reward now or invest for the future.  My goal is to make daily deposits in the heavenly treasure account; not for the approval of men, but to one day hear my LORD say, “Well done good and faithful servant!”  Not to earn anything, but to thank Him for all He has done!

Personal Reflection

Do you struggle with wanting your reward now?  Do you feel like you have to hear well done?  Perhaps your real struggle is self-worth like mine was.  If that’s the case take some time to read this post on value:

https://brianfriedl.com/am-i-valuable/

I read these four reasons/truth daily until it banished the lies I had been believing about myself and took up residence as MY truth.  With my self doubt and worry out of the way I was free to serve God and being comfortable with His future reward. 

Prayer Focus

Amazing Father, you are our great reward. The truth that we get to spend all eternity with you gives us joy upon joy!  Sanctify us with the truth. Your word is truth!  Free us from the clutches of pride and self-focus that we may serve You unhindered and focused on Your glory.  May we firmly fix our eyes on Jesus, in His Name we pray, Amen!

#truthtalk4life

@brianfriedl

]]> 785 Comfortable With Being A Nobody https://brianfriedl.com/comftable-with-being-a-nobody/ Thu, 07 Jul 2016 08:32:20 +0000 http://brianfriedl.com/comftable-with-being-a-nobody/   
In the age of self-esteem and superstars, our ego is constantly being over fed to cause us to scream, “I am somebody!” And “Look at me!”.  John the Baptist on the other hand told people who he was not (The Christ) and to look to Jesus. 

Pride comes in many forms and sometimes passes under the radar in families, business, and even in the smallest places when we are all alone in our mind.  It’s like a small child unrelenting to get his question answered…Am I somebody?  It never seems to go away.  Therefore we must be on guard and know that we are not the Christ. As a matter of fact we are not worthy to even untie His sandal or mention His Name.  

I lost a friend this week who liked this quote, “I am just a nobody trying to tell everybody about somebody who can save anybody”.  Our pride hates to even hear these words because we’ve been pelted with how special we are because of us.  As a true follower of Christ we must become comfortable with no spotlight, no accolades, and always pointing to Jesus as the superstar. 

Personal Reflection

I confess I’m a work in progress.  I’m constantly learning more of who my Savior is, who I am not, and how we are more than conquerors in Him, with Him getting all the glory.  How about you?

1) Do you find yourself wanting to be the center of attention?

2) Do you feel you need to be told good job after everything you do?

3) If you were to die today what would others say was your biggest interest and most talked about subject?

My hope is not to bring guilt, but awareness.  Pride is sneaky.  Don’t let it steal God’s glory for the mighty work He has done. Rightly He needs to increase in our lives and we must decrease.  

Prayer Focus

Almighty God and Creator, You have set all things in motion. For the universe is Yours and proclaims Your glory.  We pray against our pride.  We ask that Your salvation would give us all the approval and value we need; that we might spend the rest of our lives speaking about all You’ve done rather than our feeble attempts at righteousness. May Your Son be lifted high, in His Name we pray, Amen!

]]> 741 Stress Or Praise? https://brianfriedl.com/stress-or-praise/ https://brianfriedl.com/stress-or-praise/#comments Tue, 21 Jun 2016 12:59:15 +0000 http://brianfriedl.com/stress-or-praise/ How easy it is for us to be wrapped up in how we are going to make it through this situation today.  This week I’ve been preparing for our annual convention for our business.  My wife left 3 days ago and the week has been a blur of softball, packing for 6, grocery shopping for 12 and more.  I like things to be calm and relaxed so this can sometimes stress me out. Can you relate?

As I was reading this passage I thought to myself, “My most important need is cared for daily for all eternity”. Why am I stressing?  I made an intentional choice to praise God for His provision rather than stress about my situation.  My attitude transformed, my soul rejoiced, and my stress dissolved. Just another example of how we never graduate from the cross.  It’s power goes beyond our salvation to change every part of our journey going forward on his side of life and the life to come!

Personal Reflection

What are you stressing about today? Is it really a bigger deal than your salvation? Jesus bore all your sin that you might have the freedom to glorify Him and truly live a life of joy?  Take some time today reflecting on all that was paid for your freedom and let the praise of God ever be on your lips!

Prayer Focus

Our Rescuer and Redeemer; Mighty God, we shout praises to You and lift Your great name. For you have broken every chain and set our souls free!  None of our enemies can stand before You.  You scatter them like ashes in the wind. Who can condemn us when we are covered by the blood of Jesus. We praise you for the Gift of Your righteousness in the Name of Jesus, Amen!

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