December mornings are one of my favorite things. I slip downstairs while it’s still quiet, turn on the white tree lights (our tree has the option of white and colored lights, so all of our family members are happy!), make a cup of coffee, and sneak in a few minutes reading the Word as I sit in a chair by the tree.

I’m reading Proverbs. As I get into chapters ten and eleven, Solomon keeps referring to “the righteous.”

I have a nagging feeling in my heart that I have not perfectly been all the ideals Solomon sets forth. Certainly not perfectly “right!” Or “righteous.” Convicting examples come to mind…

Then I am reminded: Jesus is our righteousness.

We can’t be righteous on our own. That’s the whole point!

This is why Jesus came to dwell among us: to show us what a perfect life looks like, and to die on the cross for our unrighteousness.

Shockingly, he offers to give us his righteousness. He promises that he will see his righteousness in us, instead of our failure and shortcomings.

When we believe this about him, he lives in our hearts through his Spirit and is our source of righteousness; he grows goodness and life and everything right in us.

We are in great need of this! I am in great need.

I have known this and followed Jesus over thirty years, yet this reminder is fresh and encouraging. It is the simple truth of the gospel that is life-giving and what the life of following Jesus is about.

What guilt nags at your heart? Come to Jesus with it. Receive his forgiveness and borrow his righteousness. This isn’t a one-time thing, but what we need our whole live as we follow Jesus.

“Thank you, Jesus, that we are not left on our own to fail. Thank you for coming as a baby to live among us. Thank you for showing us perfect righteousness with your life. Thank you for your love on the cross, so your righteousness might be ours. Help me, by your Spirit, to become more like you and grow in righteousness.”

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Kathryn Featherstone is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and a board-certified Christian Life Coach. Write her a note if this post resonates with you, or you would like to learn more about being coached.