Let’s Talk about Righteousness

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

When was the last time you had a conversation about righteousness? Let’s face it, very few people talk about righteousness anymore. Maybe it conjures up more questions than answers. Can anyone really be righteous? Is it a desirable trait? Who gets to define it? Is it really necessary for this life, or just the life to come? How can it be attained? 

We may not talk much about righteousness, but God certainly does. Scriptures like Psalm 11:7 [and many others] declare the righteousness of God… For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright. 

How is He righteous, you ask? He is morally right in every respect. Even His thoughts are pure and holy. He is flawless in word and deed — He doesn’t make mistakes so there is no regret for any of His actions. 

What if I told you that that is exactly what God expects of Christ followers. Perfect love for God. Unwavering trust. Undying commitment. Unblemished obedience. Selfless sacrifice. Persistent patience. Endless your-needs-are-more-important-than-mine attitude. 

“Impossible,” you say? Then you are in agreement with God. “As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one” [Romans 3:10].

God is serious about righteousness and we should be as well. But we have a problem, don’t we. We are fallen creatures who haven't yet, and quite frankly, can’t produce it. Since being righteous is so important to God, wouldn’t you know it, He has made it available to us. It comes to us by means of a phrase from the prophet Jeremiah, “The LORD, our Righteousness” [23:6]. 

God, Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ, was a perfectly righteous man. He took our unrighteousness upon Himself when He was nailed to the cross. His sacrifice counts as ours. A “Hallelujah” or any “Holy Grunt” would be good right here! As Paul told the Corinthian Christ followers, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” [2 Corinthians 5:21].

Every Christ follower can rejoice in real righteousness that comes from our real, and righteous, Savior.

“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.” Jeremiah 23:5-6