Daily Devotional - December 19th, 2025
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” — 1 John 1:8
“In the arithmetic of heaven, righteousness is not averaged, it is answered for.” — Alma Ohene-Opare
Commentary:
We live in a world comfortable with scorekeeping. We tally accomplishments, measure generosity, and weigh intentions. When the balance looks favorable, we assume the ledger is settled. Yet God does not grade on a curve. Moral law is not a spreadsheet where several commendables erase one inexcusable. A single willful violation of conscience still matters, no matter how impressive the rest of the column appears. Heaven’s arithmetic is exact because truth must be exact, or it ceases to be just.
This principle protects both justice and freedom. A society that excuses grave wrongs because of unrelated good deeds eventually loses its moral footing. Likewise, a soul that hides behind its virtues avoids the refining work of repentance. Consider a bridge with one cracked support. It may look strong from a distance, but the weakness remains until it is repaired. God, in His mercy, points directly to the fracture, not to shame us, but to save us from collapse.
The gospel does not teach that our good is worthless. It teaches that our good is not a bargaining chip. We do not negotiate with heaven by offering service in exchange for silence on sin. Instead, we bring the truth into the light and trust Christ to heal what we cannot justify. That humility is the beginning of integrity. When we stop defending ourselves and start confessing honestly, we align our lives with the moral order God designed, and that alignment is the path of Christlike living.
Scripture:
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” — 1 John 1:8
Daily Application:
Examine one area of your life you tend to excuse and bring it honestly before God in prayer today.