My Righteousness

What am I feeling good about in my walk with God?
my quiet times?... the money we send to missionaries? ...the sin God has delivered me from (there is a lot of it)?

Is my barometer for how I am doing with God the frequency of my quiet times or Jesus' perfect life lived on my behalf.

Is my security in life determined in my heart by how much money I have in the bank or the constant intercession of Christ on my behalf at the throne of God?

Is my sharing of the gospel a reflection of

• my duty to the Great Commission,
  
• a reflection of the work of God in my life, or
  
• a response to the work of God in the life of somebody else?

The fact that I am a Son of God, adopted by Him, in close relationship to Him...regardless of my quiet time frequency, money donated to good causes, sharing of the gospel, or following of any other Law, rule, good idea or "should do" I may accomplish...is the source of Joy in my life. There is plenty of Joy at the throne of God; there is plenty of Joy to be had in Christ alone.

But, I do enjoy my time with the Lord in the morning. I do love our missionaries and am glad about my role in their ministries. Evangelism has lead to some of my most exciting glimpses of God at work in the world around me.

So, my source of Joy is the Lord alone. The means of experiencing his Joy are many.