Read Jeremiah 23:5-8.
In Jeremiah's day, righteousness had fallen by the wayside. The leaders of Judah were corrupt. The people sinned against God with reckless abandon. Even the priests had turned away from the Lord. Judgment was on its way. Before long, the people would be taken into exile, the city of Jerusalem would be conquered, and the temple of God would be reduced to rubble. But in this season of steep decline, Jeremiah preached the Truth and told the people that, despite their wickedness, God would bring them back to the Promised Land and give them a new King. He would be the Messiah and would be called "The Lord Our Righteous Savior" (Jeremiah 23:6).
Jesus gives us His righteousness. It's ours, completely free, without striving or struggling.
Our day isn't all that different from Jeremiah's. Righteousness seems just as unpopular. The troubling messages coming from the media and celebrity culture leave many people unable to discern between right and wrong. But those of us who know Jesus never have to wonder; all we have to do is look to Him. Everything He does is righteous and good. In fact, He is perfect righteousness; He is Yahweh Tsidkenu, our righteousness. Were we to spend a million lifetimes trying to do good works, it would never be enough to earn us the right to stand before God. But Jesus gives us His righteousness. It's ours, completely free, without striving or struggling. All we have to do is surrender our filthy rags to Him, and He will clothe us in radiant white.
Prayer: God, all Your ways are right. You are good. There is no darkness in You, and so You are worthy of all praise. Thank You for giving me Your righteousness. Thank You for making me new. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
"In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior" (Jeremiah 23:6).
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