January 8 — Favor with God

Hope for Today: A Daily Devotion from Reasons for Hope*Jesus

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“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness — have not submitted to the righteousness of God….” 

“Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” Romans 10:3, 11 

The same mistake which proved so fatal to the Jews, proves equally fatal to many who pretend to call themselves Christians. Ignorant alike of the Divine character and their own — they build their hope of the favor of God and eternal life upon some works of righteousness which they have done, or intend to do — and reject the righteousness of Christ, in which alone they can be justified and accepted. In this mistake, the moral and the immoral are equally involved, for the worst of mankind imagine themselves possessed of some virtues and good qualities that will entitle them to the Divine favor. 

The delusion remains — until the light of the Holy Spirit darts in, like a sunbeam, upon the mind and reveals the guilt and pollution that defile the best of us. We then abhor ourselves and look to the free grace of God in Christ Jesus for pardon and salvation. Thus we obtain a hope that makes not ashamed and rejoice in anticipation of the glory of God. 

Holy Spirit, lead me to Jesus daily — that I may receive from Him and use what I receive to His glory. 

Devotion by Karl Heinrich von Bogatzky (1690—1774)