Mon., 6/22/15 Devotion (Isa. 54:17)

Today's encouragement comes from Isaiah 54:17, where the prophet wrote these great words:

" 'No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the ser-vants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me,' says the LORD."

God's servants may take great comfort from this divine promise. Satan and evil (religious) men form unholy alliances against God's ministers and church-es. And though they rage, and create a fuss, they are never successful. The reason for all this is because of the latter part of this verse: the saints' right-eousness is from God. If righteousness had anything to do with us sinners, then the devil and his horde would have a hey-day with us. But, since right-eousness is from Christ alone, and is His gift of grace alone—the redeemed are safe.

Let us joyfully trust in Jesus' righteousness today.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Justification is the very hinge and pillar of Christi-anity. An error about justification is dangerous, like a defect in a foundation.” —Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]