1 Corinthians 1:27-31 (NIV): But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things–and the things that are not–to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
There is not a single person in the world who could merit salvation because of what they have done or who they are. In fact, now, as in the days of Jesus, those who are sure that, because of who they are and what they have done for the Church or the kingdom, will have a harder time getting into heaven than those who understand that without total reliance on Jesus, they don’t have a prayer. The BEST people today are nowhere near as devout as the Pharisees, but, as Jesus pointed out, unless a person’s righteousness far exceeds that of the Pharisees, they will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Only those who are willing to admit that they are hopeless and helpless to be that righteous on their own can be made that righteous. Only those who are poor in spirit, admitting that their hands are empty and that their spiritual debt to God is massive can inherit the kingdom of heaven. And these, when they are saved and sanctified, never boast or brag about their achievements, but only in God, the one who saved them.
Father, I do thank You that You saved me at a time when I was totally undeserving; that You pulled me out of the pit when I had no way to save myself. I glorify You forever for all that You have done for me. Amen.