Righteous or right

I have had a theme of thought recently. It was phrase I heard in a sermon by David Asscherick and it has helped me contemplate myself and my actions and so forth for the past few days.

Its a hard lesson to learn, specifically for me, and anyone like me.

Those who are stubborn, know-it-alls.

The lesson is packaged in this little saying, "Its far better to be Righteous than Right."

For me, that is so so so hard to hear.

Because I feel more correct than other people most of the time and often I self-justify myself with my head knowledge by using it to cover for my lack of Christ-likeness. This know-it-all mentality also has also urged my pride often overboard.

Its as if, believing in, and knowing right, correct things somehow is what brings me into favor with God. When really it is God given obedience to the lessons enveloped in Christ's character and teachings.

In a way, I seem to have valued intelligence and wittiness over sacrifice and contriteness. 

For example, for a long time I never valued the humble and wise heart of my mother, and judged her life according to the amount of "truth" she followed. And frankly she doesn't know all the intricacies of bible prophecy, nor can she explain her beliefs things with fluency and biblical accuracy.

But my mother more than, has displayed those things Christ's has said are valuable. Like patience, or her trust in God to do things for her.

She very much lives by the self-sacrificing principles displayed in Christ's life, but rarely pushes or exclaims her knowledge. 

In the end, my mother may be wrong on some bible beliefs, but by her life I can see she is living the one belief that matters.

Romans 13:8  "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law."

In the end I can have all these things, these beliefs, which are important, don't get me wrong, but they are not all important and are worthless if you don't have that one thing.

That is Love, not romantic love, or filial love but Divine Love.

I think I am right most of the time. But that really, doesn't matter, if there is not the RIGHTeuosness of Christ.

I praise God for these thoughts.

Its either you or me.

Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus.
Pilate: "Are You the King of the Jews?"  
Jesus: "Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?" 
Pilate: "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me... What have You done?"
Jesus: "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." 
Pilate: "Are You a king then?" 
Jesus: "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." 
Pilate: "What is truth?" 
--------------- Fast Forw
Jews: "We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God." 

Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, and went again into the Praetorium.

Pilate: "Where are You from?" 
Jesus: ... 
Pilate: "Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?"
Jesus: "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin." 
--------------- Fast forward
Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: 
JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 

Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. 

Chief Priests and Jews: "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'He said, "I am the King of the Jews." Pilate: "What I have written, I have written."

"Pilate said in his heart, He is a God... Pilate longed to deliver Jesus. But he saw that he could not do this, and yet retain his own position and honor. Rather than lose his worldly power, he chose to sacrifice an innocent life. "

"How many, to escape loss or suffering, in like manner sacrifice principle. "

"Conscience and duty point one way, and self-interest points another. "

Sourced-
John 18; 19
DA 738

I'm not sure if you, dear reader understood the point of this, but to me this lesson taught in the last moments of Christ's life hits home.

Reader, find it in your heart to remove your piety for a moment and realistically and honestly put yourself in the position of Pilate. 

We, in our comfy computer chair, and air conditioned buildings, two-thousand years later, may look back at this event in contempt for the weakness and failure in the actions of Pilate. But really, put yourself there.

Without your current knowledge of what the bible says, without your knowing what happens after Jesus is lead of to the crucifixion. Put yourself in place.

Could you have sacrificed your life for this man Pilate's you barely knew. I don't mean life as in die for him, I mean life as in live for Him. Could you even now, give up your job right on the spot this moment, forsake any type of leadership positions you have, and face contempt and reviling by all those who currently look up to you. 

Maybe its hard to imagine because all your surrounding and circumstances aren't important to you or something.

This all aside, my point is, are you confident you would really embrace loss and suffering, and flee your own self-interest, for another person?