Who Can Be Righteous

Anyone.

“¹⁶For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ¹⁷For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” – Romans 1:16-17 (ESV)

Paul lays it out simply for all. Salvation is for everyone. Faith is the difference. Those who accept the gift of salvation and live by faith shall be righteous. I know that seems to good to be true. But it is. There is no hidden meaning. There is no cryptic approach. Accept salvation and live by faith to be righteous.

There is a thing that we must consider though. All is by the acceptance and living in our heart and not on the surface or to ensure that others have heard and know. The only one who needs to know is the LORD and that will be exclaimed through our relationship and communication with Him. In our relationship, we have the opportunity to speak with the LORD and know Him. It is in these communications (prayer) that we find our tasks to spread the gospel and do the work of Christ. It is in this relationship that we reveal our hearts to God and He sees and knows our faith in Him.

Righteousness is not for the Jews or the Baptists or the Catholics. It is for all who accept the salvation gift from God and live by faith in Him and in actions He tasks. It is offered and for everyone that will accept and live in their heart and demonstrate that through the relationship and communication with the LORD.

Who do you believe can or is righteous? Are you of the opinion that one somehow has to be special or of a certain group? What if you were to see that it is anyone who accepts the gift of salvation and lives by faith through their heart?

Get What You Pay For

Ever wonder why people get what they do. It never fails, that which you pay for is what you receive.

“²⁴What the wicked dreads will come upon him,

but the desire of the righteous will be granted.”

— Proverbs 10:24 (ESV)

This morning I am continuing my study on the word “righteous” and remain in the book of Proverbs. In this chapter there are a number of references to the word righteous although I was led to verse 24 this morning. It struck me that what is in your heart is that which your are going to receive. Think about this for a moment. What is in the heart of the wicked, wickedness. What is in the heart of the righteous, the LORD.

The wicked are just that, wicked throughout. They are filled with evil even deep into their heart. So much so that they don’t even know that they are wicked. They go about things believing the opposite of the golden rule, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. And when it happens to them, they are somehow taken aback and cannot believe that someone would treat them as such. Their thoughts go to the golden rule and how the other person is not living by it, completely ignoring the fact that they were on the other side of things just a moment ago.

Now, think of the righteous. They are filled with the LORD deep into their heart. So much so that they put others before themselves. They go about things believing that it is better to give than receive. And when they do receive, they are blessed beyond belief at the goodness in others. Their thoughts go to how someone in such a position of need would be so generous to others.

This is the essence of getting what you paid for. The wicked pay daily for wickedness and the righteous pay for righteousness. The wicked go about things bringing to others the wickedness that they themselves want no part in. They dread being treated poorly to the point that they are active in punishing others to be the dominate one and others will avoid treating them poorly. As for the righteous, they go about things to bring joy to others. They are interested in spreading the glory of God and only desire that others receive the joy and spread it further.

What are you paying for? Are you dreading being treated poorly and yet somehow it is happening daily? What if you were to pay with the joy of the LORD and only desire that those you pay pass it on?

Righteous, In The Heart

Righteous actions are seen on the outside and displayed for the world to see. By seeing the righteous actions follow it as the example of what right looks like. Yet, there is more to it than just the outward visible actions of being righteous.

“¹⁰Let the righteous one rejoice in the LORD

and take refuge in him!

Let all the upright in heart exult!”

— Psalm 64:10 (ESV)

Being righteous starts in the heart. Righteous actions are the outward display of being upright in the heart. Being righteous is taking action based on the will of the LORD and not for or expecting anything in return. There is nothing from the world that will make the actions worth while. The worth while comes from the LORD and rejoicing in His greatness.

This weekend I am helping my son move across town. Yes, he is my son and it is my duty to provide for him and his brother, yet this is his life and his move. I have no stake in where he lives and have no say either. I will labor with and for him as an act of love and service. And, I expect nothing in return for my actions. I know what you may be thinking, how is helping someone move a righteous action. Well it may not be, but it is an example of service and actions that come from the heart where the world has no ability to make it worth while.

We have to take on more righteous actions that come from the heart and expect nothing in return from the world. The reality it that the would will be suspicious of our actions no matter what actions we take on that do not fit the glorification of the world view. And that is okay by me, as I am not here to please the world, I am here to please the LORD.

Chapter 64 in Psalms is titled “Hide Me from the Wicked” in my English Standard Version (ESV) bible. And verse ten above is the last verse in the chapter. We should be asking the LORD to “hide” us from the wickedness in the world, and look for shelter “in him”. We have to take on righteous actions, but ensure that they are coming from the heart where we are lifting up the LORD with each of them.

Where are your actions coming from? Are you bringing them to the world from a place of self-aggrandizement and looking for something in return? What if you looked inward to your heart and brought forth actions to exult the LORD, since He has hidden you in Him?