…be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.
Philippians 3:9 NIV
Righteous By Faith
The Consulate General of Israel in Toronto and Western Canada, together with the Canadian Society for Yad Vashem, honoured two Dutch families as Righteous Among the Nations at a ceremony in downtown Toronto on June 26, 2025. The Tijssen family was recognized for hiding and caring for a young Jewish girl named Anne Muller, who was two and a half years old when she arrived at their home. The Tijssen family hid Anne for two years. The Veldboom family was recognized for hiding a young Jewish woman and her husband in their home.
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If you speak with the average person, you will discover that most people think they are good people. They genuinely love others and try to be caring in their relationships. The problem is that sin keeps getting in the way of our own righteousness. In Philippians 3:9, Paul, knowing his own heart well, says that his desire is to: “…be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.” Here is a liberating truth: our righteousness is not earned—it is received. To be “found in Him” is to rest in the grace of Christ, knowing that our standing before God is not based on our perfection, but on His. When we place our faith in Jesus, we are clothed in His righteousness, embraced by His love, and secured in His promise. Let this truth quiet your striving today. You are found in Him—not lost, not forgotten, not condemned. You are accepted, loved, and made whole through faith. Let your heart rest in that grace.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley