Righteous Alone in Him

While cataloguing books for the church library, I found one with daily devotionals written by Frances Ridley Havergal, better known to me as a hymn writer. I’ve decided to work on little biographical sketch of Miss Havergal, which I’ll be posting soon. Meanwhile, here’s the devotional for today from the little book Opened Treasures.

You’ll notice in this posted devotional, and last week’s, too, I’m not cherry-picking the pieces, but simply giving you the one for calendar day. I’m trying to give evidence for a point I want to make and the point is made stronger because I didn’t have to go searching through FRH writings to find bits supporting it.

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Our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power … and in much assurance. (1 Thessalonians 1:5)

Do not let us be content with theoretically understanding and correctly holding the doctrine of justification by faith. Turn from the words to the reality, from the theory to the Person, and as a little, glad, wondering child, look at the simple wonderful truth. That the righteousness of God (how magnificent!) is unto all and upon all them that believe; therefore, at this very moment unto and upon you and me, instead of our filthy rags, so that we stand clothed and beautiful in the very sight of God, now; and Jesus can say, “Thou art all fair, my love, now!” That is not any finite righteousness, which might not quite cover the whole — might not be quite enough to satisfy God’s all-searching eye; not a righteousness, but the righteousness of God; and this is no abstract attribute, but a Person, real, living, loving — covering us with His own glorious apparel, representing us before His father Christ Jesus Himself made unto us righteousness! This today, and this forever, for His name shall endure forever.