"All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags."

Manner of Life
Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. Psalm 127:1
Daily Meditation
Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. Isaiah 64:5-7

Hymn
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given.” Isaiah 9:6
Rejoice today with glad accord,
For Christ, the Lord, is come:
Fulfillèd the prophetic word,
In David’s Bethlehem.
For unto us a Child is born;
To us a Son is given;
To raise our fallen nature up,
And make us heirs of Heav’n.

Behold Him in a manger laid:
A helpless little One;
For Whom Judea’s mothers prayed;
The long expected Son.
No earthly pomp surrounds His bed,
His home no pillared hall:
They had not where to lay His head,
Save in the cattle stall.

The King of Heav’n— the Prince of Life,
Assumes a mortal frame;
He comes to enter into strife,
To weave immortal fame.
His weapons truth and righteousness;
The cause the good of all,
The helpless sons of Adam’s race,
The ruined by the fall.

Hail, glorious Prince! Hail, blessèd Son!
On this Thy natal day
Let love and peace untrammeled run,
O’er all the earth hold sway,
Till human passion, sin, and wrongs,
Are numbered with the past,
And earth with her ten thousand tongues,
Shall praise Thee “First and Last.”

Consolation
Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness. Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up. And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them. Job 37:19-21

Exhortation
O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. Habakkuk 1:2-4

Read The Bible In A Year
Today’s Reading: Heb. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

“The poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah 29:19