Charles Haddon Spurgeon's Morning Devotional For Tuesday January 31, 2023 |
Morning Time: 6:10 AM PST
"The Lord our Righteousness." --Jeremiah 23:6
It will always give a Christian the greatest calm, quiet, ease, and peace, to
think of the perfect righteousness of Christ. How often are the saints of God
downcast and sad! I do not think they ought to be. I do not think they would if
they could always see their perfection in Christ. There are some who are always
talking about corruption, and the depravity of the heart, and the innate evil of
the soul. This is quite true, but why not go a little further, and remember that
we are "perfect in Christ Jesus." It is no wonder that those who are dwelling
upon their own corruption should wear such downcast looks; but surely if we call
to mind that "Christ is made unto us righteousness," we shall be of good cheer.
What though distresses afflict me, though Satan assault me, though there may be
many things to be experienced before I get to heaven, those are done for me in
the covenant of divine grace; there is nothing wanting in my Lord, Christ hath
done it all. On the cross He said, "It is finished!" and if it be finished, then
am I complete in Him, and can rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory,
"Not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is
through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." You
will not find on this side heaven a holier people than those who receive into
their hearts the doctrine of Christ's righteousness. When the believer says, "I
live on Christ alone; I rest on Him solely for salvation; and I believe that,
however unworthy, I am still saved in Jesus;" then there rises up as a motive of
gratitude this thought-- "Shall I not live to Christ? Shall I not love Him and
serve Him, seeing that I am saved by His merits?" "The love of Christ
constraineth us," "that they which live should not henceforth live unto
themselves but unto Him which died for them." If saved by imputed righteousness,
we shall greatly value imparted righteousness. | |