Saturday, November 1, 2008

Righteousness

As we move toward the horizon of a daily relationship with God, one of the aspects in our lives must be righteousness. Simply put, righteousness is living properly towards each other, in light of God's expectation. It is bound up in loving our neighbors as ourselves, and treating them as God would treat them. It is also what drives us to live our lives away from the things of this world that would taint us. Righteousness is an exacting discipline, a difficult way of life. It requires us to say no to many things of our culture, like excessive wealth, drunkenness, and the idolatry of things and entertainment. It requires that we exercise moderation in all things. We must strive to live in righteousness, letting God's standards define our life, rather than trying to fit Him around what we want to be. Righteousness requires that we ask God whether we should go deer hunting, rather than ask Him to bless our shot. Righteousness requires that we ask Him how to dress, rather than fashion magazines. Righteousness requires that we teach our children God's way, rather than allowing the world to train them away from His standards.

Will we live in righteousness? Or will we blend in, and tarnish our churches, our lives, and our eternity? What will be left for us to present to God for His gift of love on the cross?


Moving toward the Horizon,
Doug

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