Wed., 2/10/16 Devotion (Job 9:1-2)

Today's encouragement comes from Job 9:1 & 2, which says this:

"Then Job answered and said: 'Truly I know it is so, but how can a man be righteous before God?' "

Job's question here (above) is very important. After all, just *how* can a hu-man being, conceived in original sin and always being affected by that sinful nature, actually "be righteous before God"? This is a big problem, since God Himself is totally righteous and holy, and nothing short of absolute sinless perfection will, can, or should satisfy Him.

Nothing we could ever do or perform would give us this righteousness before God. No amount of religion, prayers, or effort will or could suffice. A sinful per-son gets righteous before God when he/she realizes that Jesus alone is his/
her righteousness. Christ is apprehended by faith. Therefore, a person is "righteous before God" through faith in the Redeemer, and in no other way. 

[Puritan quote of the day: "A Christian may come to lead a comfortable life, even a heaven upon earth, be the times what they will: by Christian content-ment.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Art of Divine Contentment"]