Upper Room Daily Devotional: Resting in His Righteousness (Galatians 2:16)

Today's Scripture: Verse of the Day

Knowing that a man is not [i]justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. Galatians 2:16 (NKJV)

Daily Devotional: Resting in His Righteousness

My dear friends, have you ever felt the fatigue that comes from trying to be 'good' all the time? We often spend our lives in a race where we think that if we just become a little more righteous, follow a few more religious rules, or do a little more service to society, then perhaps we will be able to prove ourselves right in the eyes of God. We want to reach heaven by climbing the ladder of rules, but as we step on each rung, we start realizing our shortcomings when we fail to follow them perfectly every time. This verse of ours today gives rest to our endless fatigue. It confronts us with a shocking truth that shatters our ego but makes our souls new and free forever. My beloved, let us today throw off the burden that we have been carrying for years in the name of 'justifying ourselves' and know the peace that is hidden in the faith of Christ alone.

Galatians 2:16 is truly a word that deeply affects our basic understanding of our Christian life and makes us think about what we can accomplish through our hard work. Because when we look at our spiritual journey, we often carry a burden in our mind that we may have to do something very big to please God. We feel that if we follow a long list of rules, perhaps we can become righteous in the eyes of the holy God. The truth is, however, that this Word brings us face to face with both our internal and external limitations. It tells us that a person, no matter how hard he tries, can never stand blameless before that holy God on the strength of his abilities or his works. Yes, I know this may sound a little harsh to us, but this is the truth that leads us to our true freedom. Think about it, if our salvation depended on our hard work, we would never be able to sleep peacefully, for we would always be afraid of making the slightest mistake.

Since time immemorial, people have been following the rules. Whether it is God-given Mosaic Law or our own religious standards, we have always insisted on 'doing something.' But the Bible clearly reminds us that the law is not intended to make us righteous, but to show us that we are sinners and that we need a Savior. As King David so humbly says in Psalm 143:2, "No living creature can be righteous before you, O God." Undoubtedly, this is a truth that is very difficult for our human ego to accept. We want to be patted on the back, to feel that we have earned our ticket to heaven. But the way of that holy God is quite different. He does not see our outward appearances or the imperfect works with which we try to present ourselves, but he sees our a broken and repentant heart that is now undone. It is only when we realize that all our so-called goodnesses are like filthy rags before Him that we realize the true value of the grace that has been freely given to us.

The real change in our lives comes when, after exhausting all our efforts, we abandon them and place our complete trust in Jesus Christ as the only way to be made righteousness. This trust is not just a religious word, but it is to give yourself completely into the hands of Yeshua. Romans 3:22 tells us clearly that God's righteousness, which comes only through faith in Christ, is for all who believe, and there is no distinction of any kind. When we turn our eyes away from the Law and toward Jesus, we see a sacrifice that has accomplished what we could not accomplish in thousands of lives. "When Jesus breathed his last on Calvary's cross and said, ''It is finished," He simply meant that mankind's debt had been paid in full. Now there is no need for us to live again in slavery to the old rules or in the fear of rules that no human has ever been able to fulfill. On the other hand, faith does not mean that we will stop doing good, but it means that whatever good we do now is not out of fear of punishment, but because of the unfailing love that we already have in Christ. And now our doing good is not to show ourselves, but to show Christ by our doing good.

Sometimes it seems to us that the path of faith is very easy, but in fact, it is the path of killing one's self and one's ego. For any person to renounce the pride of his own righteousness is considered the most difficult task in the world and is also the truth. We often unconsciously think that God would be more pleased with us because we have done good work so far, we attend church regularly, or we have done much good to the poor and needy. But this message from the Galatians breaks down our confusion in an instant. Because it clearly states that no creature will be justified by the works of the law. 'Anyone' here really means every single human being on this earth and there is no exception. No matter how great a religious teacher or saint he is, he is incomplete and guilty in the eyes of the Father without Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us that it is by grace we have been saved through faith, and not of our own accord, but as a pure gift from God, so that no one can boast in what he has done. It is this boon that frees us from the heavy burden that we have been carrying on our backs for generations.

Galatians 2:16 Prayer 

My dear heavenly Father, this new morning I come before your holy throne in all humility and in the righteousness of Christ. Father, I thank You from the bottom of my heart for this profound truth of Galatians 2:16, which has removed the veil of ignorance from my eyes. Father, I confess that often unknowingly I have forgotten to consider myself good by trusting in my own efforts, my own good works, and my own righteousness. I thought that perhaps I would be justified in your eyes by following the rules, by being virtuous, or by being called good in society. But today this Word of yours has humbled me by reminding me of what I lack and by exposing the emptiness of all my efforts, because I now understand that no work or sacrifice of mine can redeem me from the sin in which I was born.

Father, I confess today that no creature can be justified before you by the works of the law. So today I present to you my limitations and weaknesses. Forgive me for underestimating the value of the grace you freely made available to me on the cross of Calvary. Today I throw away all the burdens I was carrying to prove myself 'right'. Father, my faith is no longer in any law or custom, but only in your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. I believe that Jesus has paid all my debts that I could never repay through works of the Law.

Holy God, grant me the grace to live my life not in fear but in faith. Whenever my heart condemns me or the fetters of the law try to cling to me again, let your holy spirit remind me that I am now a new creation in Christ. My righteousness is not mine own, but Christ's, which sanctifies me from every stain. Father, teach me to trust in your power, not my own ability, every day. My getting up and sitting down, my speaking, and all my actions are now for your edification, not because I want to please you and get to heaven, but because you have already adopted forgave me.

Thank You, Father, that You have delivered me from the bondage of my own righteousness and have given me access to the freedom of faith that I have received in Your Son. I ask this in the name of my Savior and Source of my true righteousness, Jesus Christ. Amen