Bible League: Living His Word He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.Did you know that those who are in Christ Jesus are righteous? The Apostle Paul says that we are "the righteousness of God." Some may have a problem accepting this, because they are well aware of the sin that remains in their lives. Nevertheless, from God's perspective they too are righteous. The reason for this is that our acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior effectuated an exchange. He became sin for us, while we became His righteousness. The greatest deal there ever has been or ever will be. Although Jesus led a perfectly righteous life, He paid the penalty for our sin by suffering and dying on the cross. In contrast, we are defiled and depraved, but in Him we are treated as the very righteousness of God. To be righteous means to be blameless before God's moral standards. To be wicked, of course, means the exact opposite. Due to our wickedness, there was no hope of us ever achieving on our own the standing of righteousness before God. The standards are too high and we are too low. The good news is that righteousness is possible for us through our acceptance of what Jesus did on the cross. As a result, one day we will stand before God and He will not see our wickedness, but only Christ's perfection. It is important that we accept this truth. Failure to fully accept it implicitly implies that somehow we must achieve a righteousness of our own. It is also important for our own well-being. Thinking we must somehow live up to a standard we can't live up to is a heavy burden to bear. It is also important for our relationships to others. Expecting others to live up to unachievable standards can lead us into judgmental attitudes toward them. Let the peace and comfort that comes from the acceptance of this biblical teaching sink deep into your soul. Let it define you, for you truly are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingNumbers 16, 17, 18 Numbers 16 -- Rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Numbers 17 -- Aaron's Staff Buds NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Numbers 18 -- Duties and Offerings for Priests NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Mark 6:33-56 Mark 6 -- Jesus at Nazareth; Sending out the Twelve; John Beheaded; Jesus Feeds Five Thousand, Walks on Water, Heals NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Then I will sing praises to your name foreveras I fulfill my vows each day. Insight David made a vow to praise God each day. David continually praised God through both the good and difficult times of his life. Challenge Do you find something to praise God for each day? As you do, you will find your heart elevated from daily distractions to lasting confidence. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Jonah 2:9 Salvation is of the Lord.Salvation is the work of God. It is he alone who quickens the soul "dead in trespasses and sins," and it is he also who maintains the soul in its spiritual life. He is both "Alpha and Omega." "Salvation is of the Lord." If I am prayerful, God makes me prayerful; if I have graces, they are God's gifts to me; if I hold on in a consistent life, it is because he upholds me with his hand. I do nothing whatever towards my own preservation, except what God himself first does in me. Whatever I have, all my goodness is of the Lord alone. Wherein I sin, that is my own; but wherein I act rightly, that is of God, wholly and completely. If I have repulsed a spiritual enemy, the Lord's strength nerved my arm. Do I live before men a consecrated life? It is not I, but Christ who liveth in me. Am I sanctified? I did not cleanse myself: God's Holy Spirit sanctifies me. Am I weaned from the world? I am weaned by God's chastisements sanctified to my good. Do I grow in knowledge? The great Instructor teaches me. All my jewels were fashioned by heavenly art. I find in God all that I want; but I find in myself nothing but sin and misery. "He only is my rock and my salvation." Do I feed on the Word? That Word would be no food for me unless the Lord made it food for my soul, and helped me to feed upon it. Do I live on the manna which comes down from heaven? What is that manna but Jesus Christ himself incarnate, whose body and whose blood I eat and drink? Am I continually receiving fresh increase of strength? Where do I gather my might? My help cometh from heaven's hills: without Jesus I can do nothing. As a branch cannot bring forth fruit except it abide in the vine, no more can I, except I abide in him. What Jonah learned in the great deep, let me learn this morning in my closet: "Salvation is of the Lord." Daily Light on the Daily Path Lamentations 3:40 Let us examine and probe our ways, And let us return to the LORD.Psalm 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart. Psalm 51:6 Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. Psalm 119:59,60 I considered my ways And turned my feet to Your testimonies. • I hastened and did not delay To keep Your commandments. 1 Corinthians 11:28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; Hebrews 10:19-22 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, • by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, • and since we have a great priest over the house of God, • let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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