Daily Devotions
Have you ever had what people call a “wardrobe malfunction”? There you are at work, and suddenly you drop a cup of coffee in your lap, or you have an unfortunate biological moment and you’re not fit to be seen. If someone lends you an extra set of clothing, how grateful you are!
That’s rather like our situation with God, to tell the truth. Because if we look deep into our own hearts, we have to admit we aren’t fit to be seen in public the way we are. We may gossip, carry grudges, and bend the truth in our favor; we ignore the human need in front of us because we’re tired or crabby that day, and surely someone else will deal with it. Isaiah is right when he says, “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment” (Isaiah 64:6a). Our personal goodness is in no shape to be seen in public. I’m not about to come before God wearing that!
Thank God, we don’t have to. We have Jesus, and one of His many names is “The Lord is our righteousness.” Because we belong to Him, He lets us borrow His clothes, as it were—covers us with His own goodness and holiness and health, so we don’t have to be ashamed to be seen in public. We can even stand before God the Father in peace, knowing that He will welcome us. Jesus’ righteousness covers all our sin.
How can this be? Because it was God’s plan from the beginning, as we can see from His promises all throughout the Bible. God knew what we were, yet He still loved us. And so He became our Savior. God Himself came into our world as the only truly good, sane, and healthy human being there ever was-the only one without a single crack in His integrity. And then Jesus took all of our sin and shame and guilt on Himself, and destroyed it at the cross.
When Jesus rose from the dead, He came bringing us gifts—forgiveness and peace with God. Righteousness that will never put us to shame. Everlasting life and joy and happiness with God and God’s people. And Himself, to be our much-loved Savior forever.
WE PRAY: Thank You, Lord Jesus, for being my righteousness. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. When have you borrowed someone else’s clothes?
2. Would you rather wear Jesus’ righteousness, or get a second chance to start over with your own?
3. Why?