Right or righteous?

Right or righteous?

You are in the middle of an intense argument and the other person has just made some convincing points. You are about to tell them why they are wrong when you suddenly realize they are right. Dread kicks in. No, you can’t be wrong! You are NEVER wrong, but it seems this time you are wrong. What do you say next? I know. Continue arguing but change the point slightly. Do anything, but never admit you are wrong! As humans, we need to be right. It validates us. And then there is Jesus. Hanging on the cross being punished despite being the only right person ever. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” (Matthew 27:42-44). With a word Jesus could show them all. He could prove them wrong. Instead, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34). He endured the pain, the shame, the cross, so that every single one of us wrong people could be made right. Next time you want to be right, think about what Jesus did. How many arguments could you stop? How many relationships could you improve? Let Jesus make you RIGHTeous (Galatians 5:5).