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More than that, I count all things to be loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own which is from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God upon faith.

Philippians 3:8–9, LSB

We see many examples of faith in our world. There are people who believe in other gods and find certainty in the protection they will receive while wearing certain charms and giving different gifts. Others are based on praying to certain gods and giving special gifts. It would be easy to list the faiths centered on doing things based on actions, which we would call the Law. Christ changed that picture and continues to call us to something different for God’s chosen people who had believed that they must do certain things to keep God happy and make them holy. If the work is centered on us, it is easy to lose sight of God and become centered on our own actions. People may begin to feel that God owes them something, but in Christ, it is different. Christ owes us nothing, but we owe Him everything. Our righteousness is not centered in ourselves but in Him. We don’t have to die on a cross because He did it for us. He took all of our sins upon Himself and died, but He didn’t stay dead. Jesus rose so we may find confidence in the new life He gave us and then ascended. This is where Christ desires our faith to be centered. It is here our righteousness begins and ends, and it is here we find our peace.

Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.