Not Having…

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Not Having…

We love to have things — a sense of pride — a stockpile of successes — all sorts of accomplishments — not to mention wealth  and those sorts of things.     Human nature likes to say,  “I did that all by myself.     Pretty nice, huh?”     People will point  to how much they’ve given  to charity  and how faithful they’ve been  in various good works.

We all want so much  to think well  of ourselves.     We want to hide  all our failures  and guilt trips.     They don’t help our self-image.

The apostle Paul used  to feel the same way.     He had worked so hard  being a good Jew.     But,  when he got to know Christ  as his Savior  from all the sins he was trying to hide,  he just had to write  in Philippians 3:7-9,

But,  whatever things were  gain to me,  those things  I have counted as loss  for the sake  of Christ.    

More than that,  I count all things  to be loss  in view of the surpassing value  of knowing Christ Jesus  my Lord,  for whom I have suffered the loss  of all things,  and count them all rubbish  in order  that I may gain  Christ, 

and may be found in Him,  not having  a righteousness  of my own  derived from the Law,  but that  which is through faith  in Christ,  the righteousness  which comes  from God  on the basis  of faith.

Paul no longer wanted  to brag about how great he was.     Why?     He realized  that beneath it all,  he was still a sinner — just like everyone else.     Paul became poignantly aware  of the truth  in Isaiah 64:6,

For all of us  have become  like one who is  unclean,    
And all  our righteous deeds  are like  a filthy garment.

We’re not clean either.     It does not matter  how people praise us  for all the good things  we do.     If we’re not forgiven  for our sins  by faith  in the merits and mercy  of Jesus Christ,  all our goodness  won’t get us anywhere  but hell.     That’s putting it bluntly  and truthfully.     The only kind  of righteousness  that will get us anywhere is  the righteousness of Christ.

Only faith  in what Jesus has done  for us  will be able  to save us  from the consequences  of all our sins.     Jesus’ righteousness is absolutely perfect and holy.     Only His righteousness  is worthy  of entering heaven.     That is why we need  the gift  of Jesus’ righteousness.     The Bible talks about us  being clothed  in the righteousness  of Christ.     That means we are forgiven  by faith  in what God has done  for us — not by anything  we have done.

Chapter 7 of Revelation describes a great multitude of people in heaven  from all nations  in white robes.     Revelation 7:14 says about them,

These are the ones  who come out of the great tribulation,  and they have washed their robes  and made them white  in the blood  of the Lamb.

To be saved  one must believe  that only the righteousness  of Jesus Christ  and His sacrificial death  is able  to save us.

So,  where do we stand?     Do we really want  to depend  on our own righteousness  that is like filthy rags?     We would do much better  to fully lean  on the forgiving love  and grace being offered  to us  in Jesus Christ.     The offer still stands.     Our days  on earth  are passing by quickly.     We need  to clothe ourselves  in Jesus’ righteousness  before it is too late.

Fresh and clean,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord, thank You  for clothing me  in Your righteousness.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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