Ash Wednesday

Well on Ash Wednesday I'm observing fog and ice and because of that spent time reading the Bible this morning. As I'm flipping through the Word, my eyes land on righteousness found in Romans 6 and I decide to read it, as my pastor talked about righteousness on Sunday. After reading Romans 6 I see two stark opposites: sin and obedience. It's strange how things come about in full circle. Growing up I always believed that if you were "good" you went to heaven. Then I heard it was about faith- and remember being confused when still reading about obedience resulting in righteousness. On Sunday Pastor talked about the quote from Isaiah that states our righteousness are like filthy rags to God. But I walked away convicted- I want my God's righteousness- not my own- I want His righteousness to last in me. So as I'm reading today- I have to smile as it goes along with Ash Wednesday- I had to look Ash Wednesday up on-line to really see what this means- and the ashes are a reminder of death that produces remorse for our sin. "If Christ died for our sin and we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed (acquitted) from sin. " Romans 5-7. "Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus." So I choose to think: dead to sin- what does dead mean- no longer living and moving- unable to grow. That is what I want with sin- I don't want it living in me- for it's outcome is death. There are NO benefits to sin- the evil one wants us to believe there are benefits to our flesh- but no"Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death." Romans 6:21. "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts...and become an instrument of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God." Praise God that sin shall not be master of you, for you are not under law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. " Romans 14-18. "But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit (fruit), resulting in sanctification (to be set apart, to be wonderful, wonderful deeds, miracles) and the outcome eternal life." Romans 6:22. God's kindness- how sad His heart is that His creation (us) can be so deceived by sin- by it looking so good- when sin has ruined His initial perfect plan. That creates in me repentance, remorse- for it is the beginning of lent- the beginning of my Lord's purpose- death, but the beautiful, beautiful and precious outcome of eternal life. The never ending goodness in the presence of our God. Help me to be obedient resulting in His righteousness.