Devotional Guide -- April 9

Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Jesus, the Christ

“In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’” Jeremiah 23:6

Today when someone tries to explain something beyond words, they often say, “I just can’t get my arms around that.” I don’t like trite, overused sayings, but this one is appropriate for this verse. The knowledge that when we stand before Almighty God, we will have imputed – freely given – to us the righteousness of our perfect Lord, Jesus Christ, is simply more than my mind can comprehend. And you know what? That is not fair.

We complain that we don’t get what is fair. Well, in this case, it is not we but Christ who receives the unfair treatment. He is the one who earned the right to stand perfect before his Father. He is the one who never sinned. He is the one who was absolutely obedient, even unto the death of that cruel cross. He is the one who deserves to stand there in perfection, the only perfect one.

We should never be able to stand there like that. We are not perfect, seldom obedient, often deliberately sinful, yet we get to stand before God in Jesus’ righteousness. That’s just not fair! But thanks be to God, it is true! It’s called GRACE!

Prayer: Father, there are just no words to tell you how grateful we are for the truth of Jeremiah 23:6, written prophetically long before the birth, death, and resurrection of our Lord! Though we don’t understand, we thank you for your grace, we thank you for your perfect redemption, we praise you for what we cannot do that you have done for us. Amen.

“I am the resurrection and the life.” John 11:25
Lenten Devotional Guide
prepared for Homosassa United Methodist Church, Spring 2009
by Patience Nave, Christian Education Director