For we will be counted as righteous when we obey all the commands the LORD our God has given us.’ Deuteronomy 6:25
My dad is ninety-two-years-old and until I retired he lived alone. He’s impatient and impulsive but he readily admits these faults. He’s been an ordained minister since 1947 and still preaches when asked. He’s retired three times from the ministry since turning sixty-five the last time was six years ago. Everyone loves my dad, he is Southern Baptist. He at one time held brush arbor revivals. He had revivals at the same time as Billy Graham. He preached three weeks ago at Virginia Avenue Baptist Church on winning souls for Christ.
Beloved, the twenty-third characteristic of a born-again believer is one is righteous. Righteous’ defined as (of a person or conduct) morally right or justifiable; virtuous. Synonyms are good, virtuous, upright, upstanding and decent. When I think of a righteous person in the bible I think of Job. Job 1:1 says, “In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.” He’s blameless and upright, he feared God and shunned evil. He practiced James 4:7 which says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” This worked until satan pointed out to God how he was only righteous and good because of God’s favor. I purposely didn’t capitalize satan, he has no power over us, he can only go as far as God allows him to go and if we practice James 4:7-8 which verse eight says, “draw near to God and He will draw near to you” satan has no room or power in our lives. Beloved, we know that everything was restored to Job due to his righteousness.
Beloved, the twenty-third characteristic of a born-again believer is one is righteous.
From my dad, I’ve learned there is no retirement in serving God. We need to be faithful until He returns. He remains faithful to reading his bible, praying for others, preaching when asked. He demonstrates God’s righteousness.
Father God, thank you for the many blessings I’ve in my life. Thank you for the many examples of righteousness in your word. Thank you that Jesus died on the cross so that we as born-again believers can celebrate in righteousness. Help me to be faithful. In Jesus name. Amen.
What do you need to do to add righteousness to your life?
