Righteousness

Greeting faithful Explorer!

This year's theme for the kingdom of God is righteousness. This is an amazing topic to talk about and to go over because it will allow us to focus on what is right in God's eyes. In the Bible, righteousness is more than just moral behavior; it's about having a good relationship with God and to do that you must have faith, obedience, and integrity.

With that comes the Hebrew word "tsedeq" which means to live in according with the word of God. Today I looked up the definition of what Righteousness means in the Merriam-webster Dictionary. It says “Acting in accord with divine or moral law: free from guilt or sin” Looking at this made me smile because within my church we most definitely teach that you are supposed to follow the laws that God has laid down from us. The question is where do you find it?

Well I’m glad you asked and the answer is one many struggle with today, the Bible. 

There’s nowhere else truly, which is another thing I love. God made the bible so we don’t have to run around and search for where to find his laws or to come up with things on our own. The scriptures tells us what we are supposed to do when we are worried about things in this life which is “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,” which ties in with what I read today “Proverbs 21:21 Whoever pursues righteousness and love find life, prosperity, and honor,”  

So you see righteousness is important within the kingdom of God and you can not have one without the other. Both are important, a kingdom without a King or it’s people can not be a kingdom and a kingdom without laws leads to destruction or as it says in Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no revelation, people cut off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.”

Following God’s law is a practice that we all must take on individually. It helps with personal growth and community growth which is how it should be. How important is it? The scripture states that we should focus on things above which got me thinking… What above am I supposed to focus on? What are we supposed to think about? The scripture say that we are supposed to meditate on God’s word which means to reflect on or think deeply or carefully about it.

Philippians 4:8 says “Finally, brother and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, what is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.”

Psalm 145:5 says “They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty-and I will meditate on your wonderful works.”

Psalm 119:148 says “My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.”

2 Peter 1:3-8 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

These are a few scriptures that we have that can help us refocus on God, his righteousness, his kingdom, love, and much more. Please take the time today and think about God’s character, works, laws, promises, and all within those. Make the decision to change. Make the decision to count the cost and take the steps to stand in the light. Thank you for reading glory and honor be to the Lord.