Kingsley Nwaekwe

They have sin rooted deep in their heart.

However, they confess that to God and know that God has made a way to take that sin away through Jesus Christ.

Then due to that love, they follow the commands of God, not so they can be seen by others, but because God's grace and mercy runs deep for them.

Sometimes it's good for us to reflect and examine our hearts.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself to see if you are self-righteous or truly righteous.

When you do good things, such as go to church, help out a neighbor, or give money, do you do that so others will see?

Do you feel that the good things you do earn you love and favor from God?

Do you think that you're better than the people around you?

If you find that you are self-righteous,

The great news is that there is a way forward.

While the Pharisees and Sadducees get a bad rap, they were not all self-righteous.

In the book of John, there is a Pharisee named Nicodemus who came to Jesus in secret because he did not want any of his fellow Pharisees to see him coming to Jesus.

He was afraid of man.

But by the end of the book of John, you see a complete change in Nicodemus.

He takes the body of Jesus down from the cross after the crucifixion and prepares it for burial.

He goes from worrying about what other men will think, which is self-righteous, to worrying about what God thinks, which is true righteousness.

If the heart of a man can be changed from one of the most self-righteous groups ever to walk the face of the earth, he can also change your heart.

Just as the tax collector in Luke 18 came before the Lord beating his chest and asking for mercy, you do the same.

Pray for discernment.

Pray for the Lord to pour out His Spirit in your life so that you would not be led into falsehood.