A righteousness that impresses
“...This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.” (NIV) Isaiah 54:17
God’s response to us, his children isn’t predicted on our actions. He isn’t going to respond to us because we didn’t lie, cheat or steal. Today, we think that the hypocritical nature of the world can be brought into the house of God. We tend to impress the people around us through our outward display of righteousness. Beloved in the Lord, God cannot be mocked. He says our righteousness is like filthy rags before Him (Isaiah64:6). That is to say self-righteousness as is expected of us by the world’s standards is offensive to God; man at his best can’t stand the presence of a holy God.
His word urges us to be holy as He is but it must be out of trust in God’s righteousness. Elijah was declared righteous because he trusted in God’s righteousness and not in his own actions because he was just like us, as stated in the Bible (James 5:17).
God’s word in 2 Cor. 5: 21 helps us to understand that as part of the numerous Christian virtues, we Christians must know that our righteousness is not based on our actions but on what Jesus did. This is because when God looks at us, he doesn’t see us anymore but Jesus Christ.
Hymn:Trust and Obey
When we walk with the Lord
in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain: Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.