Righteousness that is by Faith

Today I was feeling unworthy to sit before the Lord.  I didn’t like my behavior, and saw many personality flaws in myself.  Yet the Lord readily approached me with the following Word:

“Many people think they need to be perfect and special to be close to Me. It becomes a life-long calling.  They imitate what they think is right and what religious men think looks good.  They have a righteousness of their own (Phil 3:9).

True righteousness comes by faith and would not make a man feel accomplished or better than others.  True righteousness makes a man feel empty of his own ways, yet undeservedly full of Mine.  It brings faith alive . . . faith to believe one who is human can be close to his God.

A man who develops his own righteousness must defend it with his own armor.  Self-deceit covers his sins so that he will feel perfect.  Finding sin in others makes him feel special in his own eyes.

A man who trusts in the righteousness that is by faith defends it with God’s armor.  His own sins move his heart to repentance . . . but not with self-despising.  Rather, he values the blood that bought his freedom, the blood that is stronger than all his failures, and by this blood finds his worth since it covers his sins. This man’s faith causes him to walk in freedom from deception, and instead of condescension, it develops a love of his fellow man.”

May I encourage you today to sit at Jesus’ feet.  We do so by faith, and have an entrance into His presence because of His righteousness, and not our own. Amen.