“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness…”
Isaiah 61:10a
God’s encouragement…
God gives us the precious gift of life in two amazing ways. First, through the union of our earthly parents. Later, through Jesus His Son who covers us with His robe of righteousness through our faith in Him! Through Jesus, our eternal life with God begins. Neither of these beginning points can be orchestrated, earned or bought by us. Both are gifts which can only be received.
In my journey through this earthly life, I sometimes spend time caught in a web of judgment. I question right and wrong, good and bad, better or worse. To what end do I judge myself and others? I am comforted by God’s wisdom and truth when I turn to the scriptures:
“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
Romans 3:21-26
I ponder this—God is our just judge AND He justifies us through His Son? I envision Jesus placing His precious robe upon the shoulders of all who believe by faith. It is beautiful to know that through Him we are forgiven. Not due to anything to do with us, but because of Him—who He is and what He did. I am thankful beyond words for this life-giving grace given to us by God.
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Image: original pencil drawing by Robin Lybeck: The Robe of Righteousness
