The Garment You Need to Wear

Daily Devotional – Monday, May 19, 2025
And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.
Philippians 3:9 (NKJV)

He was a commoner, a stranger to royalty and its ways. Today, though, he was about to enter the palace. The king had asked his servants to invite all and sundry to his son’s marriage feast after the original invitees had turned down the offer.

Not Having My Own Righteousness

Because he wanted to stand out from other attendees, he decided that he would not wear the robe the king’s servants were issuing to all attendees. His new, well-pressed, expensive three-piece suit could not be concealed under a ‘cheap’ white robe.

Well, stand out he did, and that’s how the king realized he had an unwanted guest. The ruler asked, “Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?” (Matthew 22:12). That’s how our friend found himself outside the banqueting hall.

The Garment You Need to Wear

Paul echoes Christ’s parable and the predicament of the awkward guests when he states, “And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.” (Philippians 3:9).

How often do we think we must first make ourselves good before we can come to Christ? Inversely, how often do we think that we have behaved well enough for Christ to save us? Will you take off your garment of self-righteousness and accept the robe of godly character Christ freely offers you?

Prayer
Heavenly Father, whenever I am tempted to use my ‘good’ works to determine whether I am good enough to be saved, remind me that Christ’s garment of righteousness is all I need.