Day 12

I glory in Your holy name, dear Lord, for in Christ I am righteous with His righteousness. I am justified—just as if I’d never sinned! I’m totally right with You!...Thank You that on the cross Jesus bore all the guilt of all my sins, including past and present and future ones. How grateful I am that, because of what Jesus did, “You crossed out the whole debt against me in Your account books. You nailed the account book to the cross, and closed the account.”

Now, Father, I bow before You as the Judge to whom I am accountable as the final Authority, the Chief justice of the Supreme Court of all the earth…and I thank You, I praise You that You have said—and your Word cannot be broken—“No condemnation now hangs over the head of those who are in Christ Jesus. The judge himself has declared us free from sin.”

How I rejoice that through Christ I am all right as a person, now and forever: totally clean, every stain removed…totally forgiven, no matter how great or recent a failure I’ve had to confess, or how often I have failed. What amazing grace! What undeserved acceptance and favor! How wonderful that You ask me to do absolutely nothing to earn Your forgiveness—not striving to measure up, no self-punishment, no prolonged remorse, no self-blame, no deeds of penance…that I don’t have to sink down into regrets, or into shame, or into denial, or into excuses for things I do wrong. I’m thankful that You don’t hold a pair of scales and ask me to pile up enough good works to outweigh my sins, my failures, my unworthiness…that it’s all by grace through faith. What an incentive to love a life that pleases You, that brings You joy and not grief! I greatly rejoice in You, Lord; my soul exalts in You; for You have clothed me with the garments of salvation, You have wrapped me with a robe of righteousness and beauty, as a bridegroom dressed for his wedding, as a bride adorned with her jewels.

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving kindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. Psalm 103:10-13