Romans 10:3 
Since they are ignorant of the righteousness of God and attempted to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness. (CSB)

Right across the street they set up their own salvation shops and noisily peddle their knockoffs. After all these years of refusing to really deal with God on his terms, insisting instead on making their own deals, they have nothing to show for it. (The Message)

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It is quite popular for individuals to craft their own rules of life. Most of these plans are centered on the particular individual who cobbles them together from bits of this and pieces of that. There are similarities from person to person, as well as striking differences.

Some people work toward manifesting what they most desire. Others plot paths directed by maximum effort and self-dependence. The amusing thing about this is that each person thinks this is somehow new and inventive, when in fact, it goes back to the Garden of Eden. It was there that God laid out simple rules for the good life. 

There was only one Thou Shalt Not, and the First Couple chose to manifest that prohibition into something good. It didn’t work then. It hasn’t worked since. It won’t work now. 

A young man showed me his personal rule of life some years ago. It was well thought out, simple and sturdy, and made a lot of sense. What he could not see, or would not, were the gaps. There were missing pieces. Also, it all depended on his strength and well-being. 

Everyone who creates his or her own Rules of Righteousness eventually realizes the missed steps. Once again, the evil one makes promises related to ambition, appetite, and approval that simply cannot be fulfilled by us doing things our way. 

There is a better way. 

True righteousness and a deeply meaningful rule of life are possible when we trust Jesus alone for salvation and reorientation toward what is truly good. Take a look at these verses which closely follow what we see above: 

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame, since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬-‭13‬ ‭CSB‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/1713/rom.10.9-13.CSB

Righteousness is less something to achieve and more something to receive. Only Jesus has met the standards of perfect righteousness, and he places those benefits upon our lives when we trust him for his gift of salvation. He shows us the way to live, a rule fully immersed in God’s perfect love which always seeks the highest and best for the recipient and those he or she shares it with. 

This kind of rule doesn’t depend on our best efforts. It is something already achieved for us that shapes for the better all we allow it to change. The more it envelopes within us, the more beauty and wonder it expresses through us. 

This can be a beautiful, wonderful day. Every day can be this way. Through dark days and light, through hard times and pure delight, we can endure, overcome, and express perfect love and what is truly right. 

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I will receive and follow the Rule of Righteousness.

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