Righteousness

Righteousness

We should be decent and true in everything we do, so that everyone can approve of our behavior. Don’t participate in wild parties and getting drunk, or in adultery and immoral living, or in fighting and jealousy. But let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of you, and don’t think of ways to indulge your evil desires.

Romans 13:13-14

As Christians, we know we should stay away from the behaviors listed in this verse. But when people are alienated from God, these behaviors are inevitable.

What is the antidote to these sinful behaviors? It’s the righteousness of Christ. His righteousness is not something we work hard to attain by doing good things or attempting to get rid of the bad. Rather, we exchange our filthy garments for a robe of righteousness.

If one of our children came in from playing outside—covered from head to toe with mud—would we hand him a scrub brush and say, “Go to work on your clothes and clean off every last spot”? Of course not. We’d help clean him up and provide a fresh change of clothes. That’s essentially what Jesus did for us by living a sinless life, dying on the cross to pay the price for our sin, and being raised by God from the dead. Isaiah 61:10 says, “I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness.”

Every woman or child who trusts in Christ exchanges her rags for Christ’s righteousness!

Righteous Father,

Thank you that we can be robed with your righteousness as we trust in you. May we never forget that you paid for our new garment with your lifeblood. Amen.