For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.
~ Romans 4:3-5
So often we think to be righteous we must avoid sin and do good works. Yet, we can never avoid bad enough or do good enough to be righteous in our own power. How do we get righteousness? Simply by believing God—putting our faith in Him. Of course, we should avoid sin and do good works, but those works are the result of the righteousness that God imputes to us when we believe, not what makes us righteous. The only way we can be declared righteous is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Lord God, I’d like to be righteous in my own power, but that is impossible. Nothing I can do will be good enough to give me righteousness. Yet You graciously give me righteousness if I believe. Because of my faith, You declare me righteous. Give me a grateful heart for this magnificent gift. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
These daily devotions are available in a book The Grace of God, with all profits donated to Love for the Least to share the compassion of Christ with an unreached world. L4L shares the Good News of the Gospel with the least and unreached by making disciples of Jesus who make disciples (2 Tim 2:2) and by helping to meet the physical needs of the poorest of the poor.