When we think about ourselves, many of us tend to think we are basically good. But when it comes down to it, there is a reason that hell is a real place where millions will suffer eternally separated from God, his goodness, and his presence.

In dealing with sin, God deals with the sinner because the problem isn't all of the sin "out there", but the sin "in here." He did this with Jesus on the cross. Though Jesus himself had never sinned, He did take our sin upon himself and bore God's wrath against sin, for "it was the will of the Lord to crush him." (Isaiah 53:10).

We are born defiled, sinning, and rebellious toward God. In fact, Jesus taught that from our hearts comes every evil we see play out on this earth. Whether sins of commission, or sins of omission, we are guilty and dirty with sin from our infancy, skilled in deceit and pride. How true then is Jesus' statement to Nicodemus, "unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God"; Be humble today, remembering that we are not saved because of our piety or innate goodness, but because of Jesus' imputed righteousness as we have been resurrected to new life.

This devotion is adapted from shortdailydevotions.com.Used with permission.