“You snakes, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?” (Matthew 23:33)
From Genesis Three of scripture, there is enmity with the serpent, the one who deceived. Those who cling to the law as the means of salvation are deceived. How will they escape condemnation? The law condemns. One has to overcome the law and there is only One who has. The One speaking to the “vipers” is the One who has overcome for the sake all who believe. Avoid the traps of the serpents. Live out the promise of Christ.
Lord, the lure of doing it on my own is great. I do not want to think I need help. I pretend that I am okay with the world when, inside, I know I am often desperate because of the conflict with all of the evil in this world. Lord, I deserve the sentence of hell, but You offer me a new life through grace. Bring me out of the self-deception to come to the place where I realize I do need to be saved and You are the One who saves.
Lord Jesus, You were constantly confronted by very religious people who were vested in their own system. I live in a world filled with people who are vested in their own self-serving beliefs. Lead me so that I move away from this kind of thinking and into a place where I look to You alone as the source of all that I need. Save me, Lord, and guide me in the way You know I need to go along the path of salvation. Amen.
