Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 71:16b, where we read these words (of David):
" . . . I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.”This little phrase (above) is a good reminder that The *only* One who has any inherent "righteousness" is God alone, Who communicates it through Christ alone. All of our righteousness is derived from Him. When it comes to the greatest form of righteousness (i.e. justification before God), this is imputed to the churched Christian in regeneration; and it is enjoyed by faith in Jesus. When it comes to any form of "civil" righteousness (which cannot and does not save), any person may have it; but it is given as a token of God's "com-mon" grace.
Let us who have received the gift of atonement in Christ’s blood bless God that we possess *His* (Jesus') Own righteousness. This is the great advan-tage of the church; and it is cause for unbounded rejoicing.
[Puritan quote of the day: "The truth is, we should listen as much to the voice of God in the ministry of His Word as if the Lord should speak out of the clouds to us.” —Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Gospel Worship"]
