Category: righteousness

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Exodus 7-9 The Plagues of Egypt

When one does not desire Yahweh, then He will bring repercussions upon them to open their eyes to who He is, the God of all creation. God sent Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh over and over to tell him to release the Israelites so they may go and worship. However Pharaoh continued to harden his heart and refused to let them go. Each plague increased in time and event. and even when the Israelites were spared and Pharaoh saw that, he continued to harden his heart. How like today, when men harden their hearts against God, He brings evidence before them to reveal their ultimate destiny and His power if they will open their eyes to Him.  Romans 1 explains much of the reasons behind this. Rom 1:19 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against allungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppressthe truth by their unrighteousness.” 

How grateful we are when we yield to God and allow Him to prove Himself before ourselves and others . Have you relinquished yourself to God so He can work in your life? 

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Genesis 35-37 Reuben

Reuben was the first born but his life did not reflect that in many ways. He brought shame upon the life of Jacob by committing adultery with Jacob’s concubine. He tried to save Joseph but that too turned badly. Reuben’s name means behold the son but he was not a picture of righteousness.

Easton’s dictionary has this to say about Jacob’s first born: ‘behold a son!, the eldest son of Jacob and Leah (Gen. 29:32). His sinful conduct, referred to in Gen. 35:22, brought down upon him his dying father’s malediction (48:4). He showed kindness to Joseph, and was the means of saving his life when his other brothers would have put him to death (37:21,22). It was he also who pledged his life and the life of his sons when Jacob was unwilling to let Benjamin go down into Egypt. After Jacob and his family went down into Egypt (46:8) no further mention is made of Reuben beyond what is recorded in ch. 49:3,4.” 

Many times we come across men in the Bible that cause us to shake our heads and as we read their life stories we wonder why God chose them and used them. But, God’s ways are not our ways.[Is 55:8-9] Reuben was saved because he did like all of us: admitting their wrong and seeking to live righteously. Where are you in this story? Are you a Reuben before or after his changed life? 

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All are unrighteous

Romans 2 We are well aware of what Paul told the Corinthians, the enemy (satan) has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so they cannot see the glorious image of Christ. Yet, to the unbelieving, they are unaware of what it means to be self righteous.However to the believing that term essentially means to elevate oneself above others. How often do we do that when we say things like; I am better than so and so. Jesus gave an example of this in his parable of the Pharisee and the Publican. Listen carefully to each.

The Pharisee says he is better than this publican because he fasts, he prays, he offers vows and offerings while standing to be seen of others.

The Publicans says, forgive me Father, for I am unworthy. He stands with head bowed ashamed and seeking mercy from God. 

Jesus asked the listeners, who went home justified? 

Now to the Romans, Paul uses that same logic by having listed those sins that are unacceptable in the sight of God, yet failing to see that they too have done similar sins. Thus he says, you are without excuse. You will never go home justified as the Publican. Why? Because, like the man in the mirror of James, you see what you are  in the eyes of God but continue to think God will absolve you because you are not like the publican. It is in the end like the prevailing logic of unbelievers: all go to heaven ignoring the truth: all are unrighteousness, no not one. [Rom 3:10]

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From Old to New

Titus 3 Paul, in writing to his protege, Titus,  began by telling him the kind of people to whom he is being sent.They are the “dregs” of society. They are liars and they live their lives undermining all good things. But, something has happened to these people. They have been changed through the power of the Holy Spirit and are now righteous before God. Because of that,they are to exhibit holy and righteous behavior, but they need to be reminded over and over not to slip back into their old ways. As believers now, we too need reminding because our arch enemy is there to tell us lies for he comes to seek,kill and destroy. It was because of God’s mercy that He saved us and now we are to walk in newness of life. It will be a constant battle, not of swords, but of thoughts, ideas and values of our old life. Just as Paul reminded Titus that these Cretans needed reminding, so we need to be reminded as well. Our new lives should be peaceable, gentle, showing complete courtesy to all people. 

So how are we doing today as we live and move through our day? 

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Climate Change?

Joel 1-3 Climate Change is the buzzword of the day. We hear about it and are reminded that the cause is humans and their thirst for fossil fuels. Yet, in the years 1930-1939, the USA experienced what has been termed the Dust Bowl. It was because the farmers in the Midwest over-plowed and removed the grasslands that had been there for centuries and, in times of extreme weather, could protect the land. It was 6 long years before the drought abated and the land would rest. Joel saw the devastation of the land not by wind or drought but by the invasion of locusts. History tells us that this lasted over three years. In that time, the seed saved from the previous year was eaten, the harvest of the current year and the seed to be used for the next year. Joel used that picture to show the Israelites the ravages of sin in their lives and how God would use the impending judgment of the Babylonians to get their attention.

What does God have to do to get ‘my’ attention? Does He have to use droughts, locusts, or another natural disaster to cause you and me to fall to our knees to repent? Here in Texas, we have gone over 55 days without a drop of rain and extreme temperatures, but are we seeking His face or just complaining like the people in Malachi did? How often do we behave like petulant children when God is seeking our return to Him? Joel reminded the people to wake up and seek His face for restoration. Sadly, they did not, and our nation seems to be on the same wavelength. Today may we seek the Lord and live! Seek the Lord while He may be found! 

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The Prayer of the Righteous

1 Kings 17-19 Elijah is a mighty prophet of God. His prayers reach heaven and are answered with a mighty response. He prays over a child, and his life is restored; he prays over a sacrifice, and it is consumed. How about mine/yours? Do our prayers reach heaven? The psalmist reminds his reader that if one has sin in their heart, God will not listen. [Ps 66:18] This is the case of the wicked and false prophets of Baal.

Listen in to the dialog between Elijah and the prophets of Baal, whose demonstration and futility are viewed by his followers. There is no response from heaven to those, even with all their bloodletting, and Elijah uses that to mock them. Perhaps Baal is on a long journey, or he is indisposed. But, after many an hour, Elijah steps up to the platform and calls upon the true God, Yahweh. Then, all of heaven listens and responds and demonstrates the power of prayer. Truly, the prayer of the righteous has great effectiveness. [James 5:16]

The result was that the people fell down and said, “The Lord is the true God!” [1 Kings 18:39] Is this your response when you see the power of God in answer to prayer?

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The Law vs. God’s Grace

the Law reveals who we are

1Timothy 1-3 Satan says we are not good enough for God to save us, and he is right. Paul knew that his life was a sham. He was just as he described it to Timothy, his beloved son in the faith. He knew the Law perfectly, and it revealed how far he was from God’s righteous and perfect standard because the Law is for lawless and rebellious people, the ungodly and sinners. He would later say he was the chief of sinners! People today look at the Law and see precisely what Paul saw. He was and would never be righteous enough, but God’s grace was then and is today greater than all our sin.

Paul relates his testimony: I was a blasphemer and a persecutor. Read the book of Acts to see that. Yet, he says, “I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief.” [1Tim 1:13] Like many today, they see themselves just as Paul. Yet that is why God saved him for the ministry of sharing this testimony with the unrighteous. In Paul’s words: “so that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life.” [1Tim 1:16]

Do you know of someone today who has believed the words of Satan? Yes, we are never “good enough,” but that is why Christ came. God’s grace is greater than all of our sins.

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How to be righteous

by faith you are saved

Job 8-10 The dialog between Bildad and Job reveals what man has been wondering about since time began. Bildad understands this truth: God does not cast away the blameless. Is he asking Job to reassess his life? He, like Job, does not know that God has already pronounced him blameless. Bildad also knows this truth: God has no pleasure in fools or hypocrites,

From that Job’s question surfaces: I understand that but here’s my question: how can a man be righteous before God? That has been the question since the beginning of time, and thankfully Paul answered that in the NT. It is not by anything we do but solely based on our faith in God’s work in us. (Eph. 2:8-9; Romans 5)

Want the answer? Send me an email at gaye@bible.org

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Alive in Christ

Christ paid the penalty

Romans 4 to 7 As I read this, all I could think about was what Martin Luther must have thought when he read this letter. What freedom he now had, as I do as well, freedom in Christ, freedom from sin, freedom to serve Him, not to gain heaven but because this is our gift back for our salvation. No wonder he took the church to task! They were like the Pharisees of old, and they needed correcting. No wonder he, like Paul, was willing to step forth to proclaim the good news: you are saved by faith, not by works!

God grants righteousness on our faith and not of works, which is precisely what Martin Luther, proclaimed and for which the church rebelled. Yet, like Martin Luther, we can declare righteousness because of this truth.

Now, as to death, we shall be like Christ in His resurrection, We die physically, but we shall never die spiritually; God so loved us that even while a sinner, Christ died for us. [Rom 5:8]Therefore, we are no longer slaves to sin, but slaves to righteousness, and we prove that through our works which takes us back to James. Prove your faith by your works. [James 2:17 -19] Rom 6:14 we are no longer under the constraints of the Law, but we are under grace. Rom 6:19, we are now slaves of righteousness for holiness.

Life Lesson: If we say we are righteous, live as righteous because of what Christ did.

 

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The Righteous Shall Prevail!

God's justice is sure

Daniel 4 to 6 Daniel served under several kings and knew the ways of God because he spent time with God three times a day. Nebuchadnezzar was a wise king, but foolishly, he ignored the advice to repent of his sin, and God called him to account. Daniel interpreted the visual lesson of the handwriting on the wall for Belshazzar. Daniel boldly told him that he had not learned the lesson of “he who is prideful will be humbled,” from the experience of his grandfather. And then was Darius, who is a prime example of one who is the fool extraordinaire. Signing a law then regretting it was his major blunder. Wicked men of his court sought to elevate themselves and demote Daniel with an extreme measure of death in the lion’s den. Yet, Daniel remained steadfast just as Paul told the Corinthians: “be ye steadfast, immovable always abounding in the work of the Lord.” [1Cor 15:58]

Daniel survived to live another day, but the wicked men and their families became breakfast for the hungry lions. This is a truth that will not change: sin has its consequences, and often our families pay the price along with us.

Stay faithful to God, stay humble, because it is the righteous that shall prevail.

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