I LOVE RIGHTEOUSNESS

Part 5

"God is in the generation of the righteous" (Psalm 14:5)

Will we walk righteous lives so that God will come and manifest Himself in our generation? Will we pay the price for God to come and show Himself mighty on our behalf?

Righteousness is associated with Truth

God is known as a God of truth and righteousness, and just as He is, so He wants us to be in this world. See Proverbs 12:17 and Zechariah 8:8. Just as righteousness and justice, and righteousness and peace are twins, so righteousness and truth are always coupled together. You can't have one without the other. Solomon testified that his father, David, walked before the Lord "in truth, and in righteousness" (1 Kings 6:3).

David reminds us in Psalm 15:1-2 that the only one who can abide in God's tabernacle is the one who "works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart."

Truth is not an external thing. It is something we must have in the depths of our hearts. More than speaking the truth, we must be truth. Unless we are committed to truth in the innermost part of our being, we can be tempted to compromise which is the opposite of standing for truth.  How easy it is to exaggerate, or to say something that is only half the truth in order to cover for ourselves. It is not easy to speak the truth when it exposes our mistakes and shortcomings, but if righteousness is part of our being, truth will be too.

If we want our children to walk in truth in their core being and not just on the surface, we will have to show them by example.

Righteousness is associated with the Word of God

Psalm 19:9 says, "The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."

2 Timothy 3:16 says, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." See also Deuteronomy 4:8; Psalm 119:7, 106, 123, 138, 144, 160, 164, 172; Matthew 7:14-17; Hebrews 5:13; Revelation 16:7 and  9:2.

It is very easy to obey the Word of God when it suits us, isn't it? It's not so easy when we face persecution or even suffering for our obedience. Obedience to the Word of God is the opposite of giving in to situational ethics.

A young couple decided to have a vasectomy after their two children. Many years later they were convicted of cutting off their fertility and reversed the situation. They were now open to having children, but each time the wife conceived she miscarried. She then lost a precious baby son at birth. This was too much for them to bear. They were being obedient to God and His Word and yet experiencing nothing but heartache. How could they continue?

The husband came to us and confessed that they could not go on trusting God. He wept with us as he shared that he could not put his wife through this suffering any more. We lovingly and gently encouraged them in the Lord and to keep trusting their God who would never fail them. In great trepidation they decided to continue being obedient to the Word of God and to be open to more children if God should choose.

God did bless them with another conception and this time they rejoiced at the birth of a precious little girl after so many years. Their joy was unspeakable! Oh what they would have missed if they had stopped because the journey was too hard. But that wasn't the end. God continued to bless them and they are now the blessed and happy parents of five beautiful children since their reversal.

Deuteronomy 6:25 says, "And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us."

Righteousness is associated with Prayer

Proverbs 15:29 says, "The Lord hears the prayer of the righteous." I certainly like this promise, don't you?

Of course we all know the wonderful promise in James 5:16, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." See also Psalm 34:17 and Proverbs 10:24. Our righteousness falls short if we are not people of prayer. If we want the righteousness of God to fill our home, we need to fill our home with prayer. Families can accomplish mighty exploits for God as they pray together around their table. God hears the prayers of righteous parents and children. How many answers to prayer do families miss out on because they do not pray? What tremendous power is missing in the church because families do not pray! What would God do in our godless society if families prayed?

1 Peter 3:12 says, "For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers."

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

 

PRAYER:

"Oh God, I pray that you will help me and all your people to pay the price in prayer for you to come and move in our generation.  Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I am doing my part to bring God to this generation.

 

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