Only His

God called Noah and said, “Come, you and all your household into the Ark; for you have I seen righteous before Me in this generation” (Genesis 7:1).

When Jesus returns to judge the world, what kind of “righteousness” is He looking for? There’s much “self-righteousness” that people hope will be good enough, but it doesn’t pass the test of God’s requirements. For no one who sins against God can also claim to be righteous… “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness is as filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our sins, like the wind, have taken us away from You” (Isaiah 64:6).  

So God provided a new nature of true righteousness, through Christ…  “The righteousness of God, which is by faith in Jesus Christ, is offered to all and rests upon all those who believe” (Romans 3:22).

The exchange of the Cross is the message God wants to go around the world… “Be reconciled to God, for He has made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

God’s righteousness, is the official wedding garment that equips us for eternity… “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall be joyful in my God. For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10).

In the day of God’s Judgment, only those who have received His gift of righteousness will hear the voice of the Great Bridegroom say… “Rise up, My love, My fair one, and come away.”

Christ is coming soon. Have you received His gift?

(Devotional by Lisa Cataford)