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Musings on Faith #37 The Paths of Righteousness | |
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"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled (Matthew 5:6, NIV)." This is one of the Beatitudes, spoken by Jesus, as recorded in Matthew 5:1-12. It concerns a topic, righteousness, which is perhaps one of the least understood among Christians. I think that this is due, in part, to the overuse of the term "self-righteousness", especially as referring to and spoken by Christians themselves. There is no need to "hunger and thirst" after self-righteousness, however. It just comes naturally to most people, due to our human nature of placing ourselves above others, whether intentionally or unintentionally. No, the righteousness which we are to hunger and thirst after is the righteousness of God. But what a mysterious word is "righteousness"! We hear it, but what is it?
Simply put, righteousness is being "in the right" in relation to God, or "not guilty" before God. A righteous person is one who is in conformity to God's will, through right action in relationship to Him. One who does what is right in the sight of God is righteous. And how to we do that? By allowing Him to "leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake (Psalm 23:3, KJV)." The righteousness of God is to be sought after, and one of the essentials of that seeking is to strive always to walk in the paths of righteousness, as He leads us. This goes against the natural tendencies of men, women |
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and children, all of whom tend to head down the path they wish to tread, and then ask the Lord's blessings upon that course. It is God's righteousness we are to hunger and thirst for. As Paul said, "But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 5:20-21, NIV)." And as we seek after the righteousness of God, we find fulfillment in His Word, in sincere and humble worship and in prayerful requests for His Holy Spirit to speak to us and work through us, so that we will do His will, or, in other words, to do the right thing in His eyes. This is why Jesus said "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled". It is that filling that makes us righteous, through Him.
None of us are righteous within ourselves, and it is a grave mistake to think ourselves so. This is a common mistake among both Christians and non-Christians. Be ever on guard against self-righteousness, for like pride it can bring about a great fall. Instead, seek God's righteousness, by being in the right in relation to Him. Being in right relationship with Him will cause us to be in right relationship with others.
Yours in Christ, Tom Woodard |
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