Have you heard of someone who is a law unto themselves? This may apply to the passage below, in Romans 2. In other words, the law does not make us righteous (those who have it or know it) but those who act in a way that is consistent with God’s law whether or not they hold a copy of it or can recite it, they are justified.

I attended a workshop this week on coping skills. The topic was values. My take away was (since I am goal-oriented), I can confuse a goal with a value. In the process of meeting my timeline goals, I can forget my values (which are not time-limited). This was an insightful introspection since negative, unwanted emotions may at times reflect unmet goals vs. cherished values.

Upon this discovery, I am challenged to re-write my goals to reflect my values. The goals which cannot align with my values must be re-written.

For example, since I enjoy helping others and being a caregiver, I must evaluate whether my care for another is impeding my value of taking care of myself. Am I giving too much (monetarily, time, energy wise)? When the one cared for is neither grateful nor willing to use the gift, I must decrease my investment. This protects me from feeling “used”, “burned out” and “devalued”. #nurse #RN

Strangely enough, I find it difficult to do this. When I look to “people” to find approval, it is especially difficult. Going back to the passage, I see the conflict of one under obligation being judged by societal standards, a Christianity that is based on norms (maybe even our parent’s interpretation of scripture) vs. true freedom to be loved by God and to love others in a healthy manner.

I find that looking to the Savior for acceptance, (not presuming on His kindness but understanding His kindness) has made me repentant. #askanduwillreceive

When I stop judging others and take a look upward, I am urged towards a change in my actions. These are actions that meet my new goals and reflect the values of God’s truth about me (not people’s opinions/judgments).

Lord, you have promised to write your law on my heart (Jer.31). -Teresa #newcovenant #realizingmyworthtoHim

Romans 2: 2-16 (ESV)

2 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. ² We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. ³ Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? ⁴ Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? ⁵ But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

⁶ He will render to each one according to his works:⁷ to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; ⁸ but for those who are self-seeking^[a] and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. ⁹ There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, ¹⁰ but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. ¹¹ For God shows no partiality.

God’s Judgment and the Law

¹² For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. ¹³ For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.¹⁴ For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.¹⁵ They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them ¹⁶ on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.