Understanding the Righteousness of God: Our Response

    God is righteous. He set the standard for what is right by being the standard. His righteousness is made known in His in His mercy (lovingkindness), His faithfulness, His judgments, His truth, His words/His Word (Jesus), in the gospel of Christ, in His forbearance to overlook our past sin, and in promising salvation for those who have faith in Christ Jesus and retribution for those who have tormented believers. What God says He will do and nothing, no one, can prevent Him from accomplishing it.  

    When we understand the righteousness of God, what should our response be?

    We should praise it, practice it, and proclaim it.

Praise His Righteousness

    Our Creator, our God, and our Father made us so that we would seek Him; He made us in the hope that we would search for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us (Acts 17:26-27). He “rose early” (well beforehand) to tell His people what is right (Jeremiah 7:13, 25, 25:4); He did nothing without telling His prophets, and they in turn would inform the people (Amos 3:7-8). From the beginning of time, God has made His righteousness known, and for that we can and should praise Him!  

“I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.” (Psalm 7:17 NKJV) 

Practice His Righteousness

    We must practice the righteousness of God – what He says is right – we cannot make up our own standards for what we think is right and believe that it is okay with God. We must seek His righteousness first and foremost (Matthew 6:33) and make His righteousness our daily practice, only then can we be considered righteous just as He is righteous (1 John 3:7).

“He who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honour.” (Proverbs 21:21 NKJV)

 

    Humility and the removal of bad habits are necessary to properly practice righteousness. It can be difficult when you feel like you’re always being told what to do, but when we humble ourselves enough to seek our Creator and come to understand His complete love for us, when we comprehend how much He wants us to find Him and follow Him, and when we realize that all His commands are “for our good always” (Deuteronomy 6:24-25) that they guide us toward what is beneficial and they guard us from what is harmful, then we will happily put diligent effort into removing bad habits from our lives (Ephesians 4:17-32, James 1:19-20, 3:13-16)

“If you seek [wisdom] as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores us sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path. When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you, to deliver you from the way of evil.” (Proverbs 2:4-12 NKJV)

    Humility, coupled with appreciation for God’s loving provision, should lead us to ask God for wisdom when we comprehend that His wisdom is the best wisdom to attain, and that He gives it liberally and without reproach (James 1:5-8, Psalm 25:8-9). Wisdom (putting what we learn from God’s word into practice) will guide us in His righteousness (Proverbs 2:10-12, 8:8-9, 18, 20-21). Seeking the wisdom that is from above and putting it into practice will produce the fruit of righteousness (James 3:17-18).

Proclaim His Righteousness

    As long as time continues God’s people will be able to proclaim God’s righteousness to the next generation because it will always be true and it will always be pertinent (1 Peter 1:25 and Psalm 111).

“A posterity shall serve him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation, they will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, that He has done this.” (Psalm 22:30-31 NKJV) 

    We are to proclaim the praises of God, who called us from darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). We should be so full of gratitude for the righteousness of God, so thankful for His constancy, His consistency, and His salvation that we overflow with proclamations of praise for Him! Please take time to read, reread, and meditate on Psalm 145 this week today, and each day this week, as the Lord wills.

“…I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more. My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and Your salvation all the day, for I do not know their limits. I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only. O God, You have taught me from my youth; and to this day I declare Your wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.” (Psalm 71:14-18 NKJV) 

    Let’s respond to the righteousness of God with praise from a heart and mind full of appreciation for it, and let us practice His righteousness with a keen determination so that we, through our words and conduct, may proclaim His righteousness to our family and to the world around us!

    God’s way is the best way! Let’s seek first His kingdom and His righteousness every.single.day.

 You can do it! So can I!!

Understanding the Righteousness of God: What is it? (Part 2)

    Please turn in your Bible to Micah 6 and read verses 3 through 5.

    The LORD wants His people to know and understand His righteousness, so much so that He addressed Israel through His prophet, Micah, and tells them to think on two specific events in their history so that they would know the righteousness of the LORD:

1.       When He brought them out of Egyptian bondage (Exodus 3-17, see also Deuteronomy 4:15-20, 24:5-7)     

2.       When Balak, the king of Moab, asked the prophet Balaam to help him defeat Israel (Numbers 22-25, 31:1-24, see also Deuteronomy 18:20, 23:3-5, Joshua 24:8-10, 2 Peter 2:15, and Jude 11)

    How do these events help us to know the righteousness of the LORD?

1. God keeps His promises; He is faithful and does not lie (1 Thessalonians 5:24, Titus 1:2, Numbers 23:19). The LORD promised Abram that He would give his descendants the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:1-8) – and He did. He raised up

    Miriam, Aaron, and Moses to lead the children of Israel (Abraham’s grandson’s children) out of Egyptian slavery (Joshua 24:5-7). He protected His people in their travels (Exodus 13:21-14:31) and provided for them (nourishment: Exodus 16-17, victory: Exodus 33:1-2). The LORD brought them to the land of Canaan with Joshua and His faithfulness never failed (Joshua 24:11-14).

Bottom line: If God has said it, you can be rest assured that He will do it, and He will be with you to help you every step of the way.

2 . God will bless His people, and the wicked He will punish (Psalm 37:37-40, Proverbs 11:18-21). Balak, the king of Moab, wanted to defeat the immense nation of Israel that had been steadily conquering their enemies as they approached the land of Canaan, so he requested the prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites (Numbers 22). Balaam went to inquire of the LORD to see if it would be alright for him to curse the Israelites; God told him not to go with Balak and not to curse the people “for they are blessed” (Numbers 22:12). Yet, when Balak once again begged Balaam to come with him to curse the Israelites (this time promising him great honour, Numbers 22:17), Balaam once again went to inquire of the LORD to see if He had changed His mind. God told him to go if the men came to call him the next morning, but Balaam took that instruction as approval, rose the next day, saddled his donkey, and went with the Moabite princes.

    The whole time Balaam was with Balak, each time he opened his mouth, the LORD made every attempt at a curse into a blessing for His people (Deuteronomy 23:5), frustrating both Balak and his evil plans.

Bottom line: God daily loads us with benefits and blessings (Psalm 68:19) and no one can block or prevent His blessing on His people (Numbers 23:19-20).

    God’s word will never fail. His promises are real. His blessings are real. Neither will fail because our God and Father has given them. All will be fulfilled. Our righteous God could not do otherwise, of this you can be wholly assured.

    Take time this week to think on all that God has done and continues to do – His word and His work have not failed, will not fail, do not fail. Are you confident in God and His righteousness? Are you ready to seek it first and foremost (Matthew 6:33) each day?

You can do it! So can I!! 

Understanding The Righteousness of God

    In my study on this subject I came across an excellent summary definition for the righteousness of God: “It is the plumb line for human life.”  God is righteous (Psalm 11:7, Psalm 85:10-13, 1 John 3:7) and His very nature defines righteousness; all the He is and all that He does is right – God is the only and absolute standard for what is right. God is consistent and unchanging, which means His righteousness is consistent and unchanging; His creation can wholly trust Him and cling to His righteousness with unwavering assurance that we who practice His righteousness are right in His sight (1 John 3:7, also consider Romans 10:2-3, Philippians 3:8-11).

    The heavens declare God’s righteousness (Psalm 50:6, 97:6) – day follows night, Spring follows Winter, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, the sun, the moon, and the stars – they all, without voice, declare His righteousness through their consistency and God-given order. Read and think on Psalm 19:1-4.

But the righteousness of God is also seen…

…in His mercy (lovingkindness) Psalm 36:5-6*

…in His faithfulness Psalm 36:5-6, Psalm 143:1-2, Psalm 40:9-10

…in His judgments Psalm 36:5-6, Isaiah 26:9, Psalm 119:160

…in His salvation Psalm 40:9-10

…in His truth Deuteronomy 32:2-4, Psalm 40:9-10

…through His words/His Word (Jesus) Isaiah 45:19, God’s “right hand is full of righteousness” (Psalm 48:10) – Who sits at God’s right hand? Jesus (Colossians 3:1), the Word of God (John 1:1-4, 14). Read and consider Malachi 4:2.

…in the gospel of Christ it is the power of God to salvation Romans 1:16-17

…when He sent His Son to die for us Romans 3:25-26

…in His forbearance to overlook our past sin and grant us forgiveness Romans 3:25-26

…to all who have faith in Christ Jesus Romans 3:21-22

…when we are counted worthy of His kingdom because we endure persecution patiently and faithfully 1 Thessalonians 1:5

…when He repays those who trouble us with tribulation 2 Thessalonians 1:6

 *Just as Psalm 19:7-11 uses “testimony of the LORD,” “statutes of the LORD,” “commandments of the LORD,” “the fear of the LORD,” and “judgments of the LORD” to speak about the “law of the LORD,” I believe that the passages I have referenced (in the above section) give us insight to additional terms that speak of God’s righteousness, because His mercy, His faithfulness, His judgments, His truth, and His salvation are all as He is: consistent, unchanging, and right (Psalm 119:160).

• God's mercy is right; it is the standard for what is right – we need to be merciful as He is merciful (Luke 6:36).
• God’s faithfulness is right; it is the standard for what is right – we need to be faithful like Him in all our doings (Ephesians 6:5-7, Revelation 2:10, Hebrews 10:23, 1 Peter 4:19)
• God’s judgments are right; they are the standard for what is right – we need to respect His judgments and learn from them (Psalm 19:9-11, Psalm 119:137-138, Micah 6:8, Hebrews 5:14, 12:3-11)
• God’s truth is right; it is the standard for what is right - we need to know the truth and obey it (Psalm 119:1-176, John 14:6, John 8:31-32, 1 Peter 1:22)
• God’s word is right; it is the standard for what is right – we need to know it so we can live upright in His sight (Psalm 33:4-5, Psalm 119:1-2, 10-11, 17-18. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12)

“How precious is your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the rivers of Your pleasures. For with you is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light. Oh, continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You, and Your righteousness to the upright in heart.” (Psalm 36:7-10 NKJV)

     God determined before time began that He would provide grace to mankind through His Son (2 Timothy 1:9-10, Titus 1:1-3); He decided it was right to do, and in all the facets of His righteousness He has given us both a plumb line and a life line – a sure standard to live by now and an eternal life to confidently strive for (Ephesians 5:1-2, 1 Peter 2:21-24, 1 Peter 1:3-4).

     Are you using the righteousness of God as the plumb line for your life? Are you imitating Him as a dear child? He loves you and wants you to walk in the way that is right (Deuteronomy 5:32-33, Proverbs 3:5-6); He has provided all that you need to do exactly that (Proverbs 2:10-11, 20, 2 Timothy 3:16-17)! Let’s determine that we will align ourselves with God and His righteousness!

 You can do it! So can I!! 

Understanding the Righteousness of God: An Introduction

    Today is the beginning of a new study that will hopefully help us better understand the righteousness of God. If the Lord wills, throughout this month we will dig into scriptures that will help us answer these two questions: What does “the righteousness of God” mean, and how should we respond to it?

    To begin, let’s look at some verses that tell us about God's righteousness in a general way:

    God is righteous and He loves righteousness (Psalm 11:7). His righteousness is like the great mountains (literally, the mountains of God, Psalm 36:6); it is very high (literally, to the height of heaven, Psalm 71:19). Righteousness and justice are the foundations of His throne (Psalm 72:9), His right hand is full of righteousness (Psalm 48:10), and like His throne and dominion, His righteousness endures forever (Psalm 11:3, 112:3, Psalm 119:142, 144, 2 Corinthians 9:9).

    God’s righteousness is revealed to and known by all who have faith in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:21-22); when we call on Him He answers us by awesome deeds in righteousness (Psalm 65:5), and His righteousness can and will revive us (Psalm 119:40).

    God’s righteousness is the only acceptable righteousness (Romans 10:2-3, Philippians 3:9). We cannot follow what seems right to us and think ourselves right and accepted in God’s sight, we must submit to His righteousness (consider Judges 17:6, 21:25, and Proverbs 14:12, 16:25, and compare to Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 1, Jeremiah 17:5-8).

    The righteousness of God is the absolute standard; it is the high water mark for all people. He set the standard and has revealed it to us, and with each day we are blessed with we can learn of it and put it into practice so we can be righteous just as He is righteous (1 John 3:7).

Are you ready to better understand the righteousness of God?

 You can do it! So can I!!

Good Habits to Put in Place

    Last week in our study of Titus 2:11-14 we looked at what it means to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. I encouraged you to pay attention to your habits so you could identify the bad and/or sinful ones so you could make appropriate choices to remove them.

    In Matthew 12:43-45 Jesus spoke of a man who had an unclean spirit who leaves him but because he could find no new place to rest the unclean spirit decides to return to the man, finding his former “home” empty, swept, and put in order. So he takes seven other spirits more wicked than himself and they all enter the man – causing the state of the man to be worse now than it was before. The mistake the man made after the evil spirit left him was that he did not replace the evil that was removed with something good and proper; although swept and put in order (having a tidy appearance) he had left himself empty and did not fill himself up with better knowledge nor determination to maintain new and better habits/conduct.

    Have you heard the old proverb, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop”? We can remove bad habits but if we do not replace them with a new direction of thought and action we leave ourselves open to the devil’s deceptions (1 John 2:15-17). That is why God, in His great and abounding love for us, has always provided us with good habits to immediately put in place of the bad habits He commands us to remove.

    Consider the basis of our study: Titus 2:11-14. God tells us, through the apostle Paul, to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts (turn our backs on them) and instead “live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age” (v12) and “be zealous for good works” (v14) – God gives us good things to do (Ephesians 2:10) so we can develop new and better habits!

Side Note: soberly means with a sound mind, conducting yourself moderately and sensibly

                righteously means uprightly, morally correct behavior based on God’s law

                godly means pious and devout, wholly respectful of God and His way

                zealous (for good works) means ready and willing, most eager to do

    Consider the following passages and take hold of the good habits God proffers you to put in place of your bad habits:

Romans 13:12

• Cast off: works of darkness
• Put on: the armour of light

Romans 13:13

• Cast off: revelry and drunkenness, lewdness and lust, strife and envy
• Put on: walking properly

Romans 13:14

• Cast off: provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts
• Put on: the Lord Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 13:11

• Put away: childish things (speaking, understanding, thinking as a child)
• Put on: maturity and love

Ephesians 4:22-24

• Put off: former corrupt conduct, deceitful lusts (see vv17-19)
• Put on: the new man created according to God in true righteousness and holiness

Ephesians 4:25

• Put away: lying
• Put on: speaking the truth to your neighbour

Ephesians 4:28

• Put off: stealing
• Put on: laboring with your hands what is good so you can provide for those in need

Ephesians 4:29-32

• Put off: corrupt words (v29), all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, and evil speaking with all malice (v31)
• Put on: words that are good for necessary edification (building up, v29), kindness to one another, being tenderhearted, and being forgiving to one another (v32)

Colossians 3:5-14

• Put off: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, covetousness (idolatry), anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth, lying to one another, old man (of sin) with his deeds
• Put on: the new man renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with one another, forgiving one another, love (the bond of perfection)

2 Timothy 2:22

• Flee: youthful lusts
• Pursue: righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart

1 Corinthians 6:18-20

• Flee: sexual immorality (fornication)
• Instead:  glorify God in your body and spirit, which are God’s

1 Corinthians 10:13-14

• Flee: temptation (v13) and idolatry (v14)
• Take: the way of escape God makes (that you may be able to endure the temptation, v13)

1 Timothy 6:3-12

• Withdraw yourself from: teachers who do not consent to wholesome words, who are proud, knowing nothing, obsessed with dispute and arguments over words, from which envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of truth, who suppose that godliness if a means of gain (vv3-5)
• Flee: desire to be rich, love of money, greediness (vv9-10)
• Pursue: righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness (v11), fight the good fight of faith (v12)

1 Timothy 6:17-19

• Do not be: haughty nor trust in uncertain riches
• Do: trust in the living God. Do good that you may be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share

Hebrews 6:11-12

• Do not: become sluggish
• But Imitate: those who through faith and promises inherit the promises (v12) and show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end (v11)

Additional mentions of things to put off and what to put on:

• Put off: the body of the sins of the flesh (Colossians 2:11)
• Put on: Christ (Galatians 3:27)
• Put on: the whole armour of God (Ephesians 6:10-18)
• Put on: the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet the hope of salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:8)
• Put on: follow after (pursue) good works (consider 1 Timothy 5:10)

    God is SO good! The Bible is not a book filled with a bunch of “thou shall nots,” but a book overflowing with loving instruction from our heavenly Father so we can walk properly as His children (Ephesians 5:1-17, 1 John 2:3-6) and have a beautiful and beneficial life! Think on these good habits that God commands you to put on and be busy in them! Remind yourselves of them each morning so you can develop your daily determination to put them into practice!

You can do it! So can I!! 

Flourish Even More in 2024… In Righteousness – Part 4

    As we conclude our month-long study of righteousness, I would like you to consider the treasures of truth pertaining to righteousness found within two chapters of Proverbs. I hope this lesson will motivate you in your pursuit of righteousness (2 Timothy 2:22) and encourage you to continue to flourish like a palm planted in the courts of God (Psalm 92:12-15).

“Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.” (1 John 3:7 NKJV)

Truths About The Righteous Found In Proverbs 10 & 11

WE SPEAK ONLY GOOD WORDS:

• “The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.” (10:11)
• “The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, the heart of the wicked is worth little.” (10:20)
• “The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of wisdom.” (10:21)
• “The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut out.” (10:31)
• “The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.” (10:32)

    ~ Consider Ephesians 4:29-32, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, and Romans 12:9-21

WE SEEK ONLY GOOD FOR OTHERS:

• “The desire of the righteous is only good, but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.” (11:23)

    ~ Consider 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, Galatians 6:1-3; 9-10, Matthew 5:43-48, and Romans 13:8-10

WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO SEEK & SERVE GOD:

• “Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; but the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.” (11:21)

    ~ Posterity means ‘future generations’. Consider Genesis 18:19, Deuteronomy 4:9, Joshua 4, Psalm 71:17-18, and 2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14-17

WE TEACH OTHERS TO SEEK & SERVE GOD:

• “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.” (11:30)

    ~ Consider Matthew 28:18-20, John 6:68-69 (how can we keep it to ourselves when we know this?), and James 5:19-20.

GOD'S WORD HELPS US MAKE PROPER CHOICES:

• “The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, but the wicked will fall from his own wickedness.” (11:5)

    ~Consider Proverbs 3:5-6, and Hebrews 5:12-14

 GOD WILL NOURISH US:

• “The LORD will not allow the righteous soul to famish, but He casts away the desire of the wicked.” (10:3)

    ~ Consider Matthew 5:6, John 6:35, and Isaiah 55:1-3

 GOD WILL BLESS US:

• “Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.” (10:6)
• “The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not inhabit the earth.” (10:30)
• “If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner.” (11:31)

    ~ Recompensed means “rewarded”. Consider Matthew 5:5, Psalm 37:11, and Hebrews 11:6

 GOD HEARS OUR PRAYERS:

• “The fear of the wicked will come upon him, and the desire of the righteous will be granted.” (10:24)

    ~ Consider James 1:5, Matthew 7:7-8, John 15:7-8, and James 5:16-18

GOD HELPS US IN OUR TROUBLES:

• “The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.” (11:6)
• “The righteous is delivered from trouble, and it comes to the wicked instead.” (11:8)

    ~ Consider Haman’s actions and his demise in the book of Esther – see Esther 5:9-14 and 7:1-10, also Psalm 34

THE PROFITS OF PURSUING RIGHTEOUSNESS:

• “He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.” (11:28)

    ~ Consider Psalm 1:1-3, Jeremiah 17:7-8, 1 Timothy 6:5-10; 17-19, Matthew 6:19-21, and Ephesians 1:3-14

WE HAVE A CONFIDENT HOPE:

• “Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death.” (10:2)
• “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.” (11:4)
• “The hope of the righteous will be gladness, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.” (10:28)
• “The labour of the righteous leads to life, the wages of the wicked to sin.” (10:16)
• “The wicked man does deceptive work, but he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.” (11:18)
• “As righteousness leads to life, so he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.” (11:19)

    ~ Consider Romans 8:12-17 and 1 Peter 1:3-9

WE WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR GOOD:

• “The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot.” (10:7)

    ~ Consider those noted in Hebrews 11, the woman in Mark 14:3-9, and Dorcas in Acts 9:36-42

It is worth every effort to flourish even more this year in righteousness and God will be with you every step of the way!!

You can do it! So can I!!

Flourish Even More in 2024… In Righteousness – Part 3

    One of the obstacles in pursuing righteousness is not having a good understanding of God’s will and so we are swayed by the pressures of the world. In Acts 5:29 the apostles lived out their bold statement of faith, “We ought to obey God rather than men” when they continuing sharing the good news of Jesus after they were threatened.

    We can unknowingly have our understanding of what is right conformed to the world’s way of thinking when we spend more time with social media than in God’s holy word.

“…do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2 NKJV)

    God wants us to look different from the world; obedience to His commands will cause us to look different because His way is different – it is better – in its consistent, never-changed/never-changing truth.

“…the word of God which lives and abides forever… The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the LORD endures forever.” (1 Peter 1:23b, 25a NKJV)

    At every opportunity society will happily tell us WHAT to think, while God teaches us HOW to think. Society’s way is easy, while God’s way takes commitment, time, and effort (consider Matthew 7:13-14). Proper discernment of good and evil only comes from reading, understanding, and applying God’s word and will (Hebrews 5:12-14) and that does take time and daily determination.

    Sometimes though, it’s not society’s influence that slows or even halts our progress… sometimes we need to be told, “We ought to obey God rather than ourselves.”  We can be our biggest obstacle in pursuing righteousness because we feel we know enough and don’t desire to know more. Why? Because change is hard, it can be exhausting! God’s word demands change in us and when we feel that all we are doing is changing or we are the only one changing we just don’t want to keep doing it. We think we know the basics: go to church services, don’t be mean, don’t kill anyone, and we leave it there. We go through our days obeying our own sense of right without honing our discernment through continued learning, obedience, and change. 

    God commands us, through Paul, to flee youthful lusts (2 Timothy 2:22) – pride in our own self-limited knowledge/understanding and slothful servitude are part of the youthful lusts that we are to leave behind (1 Corinthians 13:11) and not return to as we pursue righteousness.

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.” (Philippians 3:12-15 NKJV)

Are you determined to obey God rather than men? Rather than yourself?

Dig in, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33)!

You are not alone, we’re all in this together (1 Peter 5:9)! Change is hard, be patient (James 1:2-4) and trust God, the end result is worth your continued effort!

And no matter what the world tries to tell you, remember that God’s way is and always will be the best way!

“He who pursues righteousness and loyalty finds life, righteousness, and honour.” (Proverbs 21:21 NKJV)

Keep your daily determination to flourish even more in righteousness this year!

You can do it! So can I!!

Flourish Even More in 2024… in Righteousness – Part 2

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6 NKJV)

    This verse is a part of a familiar passage that we are often taught to memorize when we are children but now, as adults, our minds may tend to rattle past without much thought or concentration – we know the gist of it so we skim over and move on. In our desire to flourish even more this year in righteousness, let’s take the time to pause and consider it.

    The word “hunger” as it is used here, means ‘to pine, to famish, and to crave.' It also means ‘to toil for daily subsistence, to be starving.’ “Thirst” in this passage simply means ‘to thirst for.’   

    We may have at one time or another experienced hunger, even getting hangry (angry because you’re so hungry) because you haven’t eaten for several hours and anyone who has worked outdoors under the summer sun knows how parched the heat can make you feel.

    We understand this on some level in the physical realm, but what about in the spiritual realm? Do you crave righteousness? Do you awake famished for it? Do you work toward it, toil for it, as though your life depends on it? Do you thirst for more and more knowledge of God and His will, so you can obey it?

    God promises that those who crave, toil, and thirst for righteousness (living right before God, according to His will) will be filled.

    “Filled” means ‘to gorge (supply food in abundance), feed, fill, satisfy.’ WOW!!

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money, come, buy and eat… Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance, incline your ear, and come to Me, hear, and your souls shall live.” (Isaiah 55:1a, 2-3 NKJV)

    “…eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.” ABUNDANCE! Unlike our occasional tables of bounty, the abundance God offers to us is available all the time! Every hour of every day!! And the supply will never run dry – eat and drink to your fill, nourish your soul, and keep coming back again, and again, and AGAIN! “…eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.”

    God will fill you with righteousness when you hunger and thirst for it! Taste His word – try His way! Obey His commands and instructions – trust Him!! As you discover God's wisdom and the benefits that come from obeying His will (Psalm 68:19) your desire to learn and to do His will each day will increase and He will continue to satisfy you, He will continue to FILL YOU UP!! 

“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man you trusts in Him!” (Psalm 34:8 NKJV) 

You can do it! So can I!!

Flourish Even More in 2024… in Righteousness

    I would like to expand on last week’s post (based on Psalm 92:12-15) in which it said “the righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.” A Lebanon cedar was truly a flourishing tree, reaching far up into the heavens as they grew to maturity – and we can be like that too as we reach forward to those things which are ahead and press toward the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14)!

    This week I would like you to think on this verse:

“Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22 NKJV)

    God never asks us to remove something from our lives without giving us something good to replace it with (take note of Ephesians 4 and Colossians 3 “put off…” followed by “put on…”). In this verse, we are told to run from youthful lusts and instead run toward righteousness, faith, love, and peace. It is important that we understand what we are running toward in order to keep our determination focused on the goal.

Side note: The King James Version uses the word “follow” in 2 Timothy 2:22, but I like how the New King James Version uses the word “pursue”. “Follow” feels to me unintentional without thought, coincidental even (although it does not mean that), you are simply following someone down a hall, for example, but “pursue” is ripe with intention and purpose, you are pursuing someone down a hall, you fully determine to get to them.

    We are to PURSUE righteousness.

    Righteousness is ‘equity of character or act.’ ‘Equity of character’ is to possess all good qualities (of God, His attributes) in perfect balance.

    God is just while still possessing compassion and mercy. God is kind but His disposition toward sin will never be altered. God is love, but His love never undermines His Truth. For example: 2 Peter 3:9 “[God] is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish (His love for us), but that all should come to repentance” – His truth states that we will perish if we do not repent and submit to Him (see Romans 2:2-11). His love offers us hope, but we have a responsibility toward Him in order to have salvation.

    All that God is is in perfect balance! We should always be striving to be like Him in all things (1 Peter 1:13-16, 1 John 3:1-3, Ephesians 5:1), striving to conduct ourselves with that same balance.

    How important is it that we pursue righteousness?

    Consider Matthew 6:33

“…seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (NKJV)

    Seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Above all else, seek Him and His righteousness; it’s THAT important!

    What are the things that will be added to you when you seek first God and His righteousness? See verse 31 – you will have life’s necessities: food, drink, and clothing. With these things you can be content (please read 1 Timothy 6:6-8) and you will not have to worry, God WILL provide. God blesses His children with what we need each day; that is why verse 34 states the command “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for today is its own trouble.”

    When we trust God to provide the necessities of life for us each day as we humbly seek and serve Him, we will soon learn that He also provides us with wisdom and strength to get through our day. When we take hold of those things, we will not worry about tomorrow because we will know that if God grants us a new day, with that new day He will also grant us renewed strength and ability (Psalm 103:1-5, Isaiah 40:28-31, Lamentations 3:22-26) to take into that day.

    A woman seeking FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness, will not worry about tomorrow. She will not borrow trouble from some future day - destroying the peace of her “today” – she will instead trust wholly in God, knowing He will be there in any tomorrow she may be granted. She will bless God and praise Him for the blessings He grants her today, her heart will overflow with thanksgiving and her mind will be guarded with peace (Philippians 4:6-7).

    God loves us! He is full of lovingkindness. He asks us to seek Him first. With each day we are given, let us do just that! Let’s determine to flourish even more in 2024! And at the end of each day, let our hearts praise Him for the strength, wisdom, and ability He gave us to get through the day – He is forever faithful! Let us be forever faithful in our pursuit of being like Him, in our pursuit of being found right in His sight, in our pursuit of righteousness!

“It is good to give thanks to the LORD, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night.” (Psalm 92:1-2 NKJV)

You can do it! So can I!!

Flourish Even More in 2024

Happy New Year!!

    I hope that as you look back on the past year you find that you have grown in some areas and as we enter a new year together I encourage you to continue in your growth and Flourish Even More in 2024

    To prepare yourself for this daily resolute determination, consider this passage:

“The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the LORD is upright; He is my Rock, and there is now unrighteousness in Him.” (Psalm 92:12-15 NKJV)

“The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree…”

    If you would like to flourish like a palm this year you must be righteous. How can you be righteous? By putting off your former conduct and being renewed in the spirit of your mind so you can put on the new man created according to God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:20-24) – following God’s way will provide all with you need to know to be right in His sight and holy in all your conduct (1 Peter 1:15-16) – but please note, that knowing what is right is not enough, you must put it into practice and do what is right (James 1:21-25)

    You must practice righteousness (1 John 3:7). To practice means to continually do, to keep trying, to build up your ability and consistency to do properly to the best of your ability. Through reading and study you will find out what is acceptable to Him (Ephesians 5:8-10) and when you ask for wisdom (James 1:5) you can, in wisdom, understand what the will of the Lord is (Ephesians 5:15-17), which should lead you to do His will.

    It is in the knowing and the doing that you will discover wonderful blessings (Psalm 34:8, Matthew 6:44, Ephesians 1:3-14) and realize that His guidelines (the freedoms and the prohibitions) are all for our good, and you will prove, to yourself and to others, that His will is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2).

    Just as the extraordinary cedars of Lebanon, renowned for their longevity and characteristic strength, begin by anchoring themselves in the earth and then spend their lifespan actively growing toward the sun, if you begin by rooting yourself deeply in the truth and anchoring yourself in it, you will flourish; in your lifetime you will reach untold heights, become known for your stick-to-it-ive-ness, and strength of character as you actively grow closer to the Son!

“Those planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God”

    What is the house of the LORD? Consider Hebrews 3:6 where it states that Christs is over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. We could now consider this “house” as the church, which is Christ’s body – and God adds to it (or plants in it) those who are being saved (Acts 2:47).

Side note: Consider how one becomes part of the body of Christ by reading Romans 6:1-3, Galatians 3:27, and 1 Corinthians 12:13

    Once you are planted by God in His wondrous courts the root of the righteous cannot be moved (Proverbs 12:3, Psalm 62:5-7 – nothing and nobody can remove you unless you choose to uproot yourself, Romans 8:31-39). You can flourish in the courts of our God because He provides all we need to do exactly that (Hebrews 4:16, Ephesians 3:20, 2 Timothy 3:16-17)!

“They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing…”

    Throughout your lifetime, at every stage of life, you can bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) as you continue your daily practice of righteousness. Consider 2 Corinthians 4:16 “Therefore do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” Whatever age you are at, there is SO much you can do!

Do not give up! Keep going! Keep growing!!

Be determined to flourish even more in 2024!!

You can do it! So can I!!