There it is, don't miss it.

The heavens proclaim his righteousness,

   and all peoples see his glory.

Psalms 97:6 NIV

Don't miss it! Pay attention. There it is.

Last night my wife pointed out a huge spider web right outside our front door. The deal is, I had walked right by it at least three times and didn't see it. We miss seeing things because we're just not looking. That's not a guilt trip, it's just a reality. 

Psalm 97 tells us that "The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all peoples see his glory." Proclaim, not proclaimed or will proclaim. See, not saw or will see. Right now the righteousness of God is being proclaimed and his glory is seen. Psalm 97 is a Psalm proclaiming that the LORD reigns and he is on his throne, exalted.

Yesterday, I was at a training for one of the responsibilities involved in my new position at work. We had to request approval for access to one of the district online areas. My boss approved it within a few minutes. May not seem like a big deal, but, I was feeling a bit insecure in my new position and that just gave me a little assurance that everything was OK. The Lord is still on the throne. 

God is working, we just don't always see it. Sometimes we don't see God working because we aren't looking. May the Spirit of God open our eyes to see his glory in our lives.

Think Good Stuff, Do Good Stuff

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:8-9 NIV

I teach at a middle school. One of the classes I teach is a Math Tutor Lab and we use an online course. I am amazed that some of the students are failing the course yet, can find a way to get around the firewall to try to search inappropriate sites. They use all their mental powers just to attempt to get around the firewall. That's all they think about. 

Paul tells the Philippians and us to think about what is excellent or praiseworthy. The good stuff. Things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable. Think about these excellent and praiseworthy things. Put them into practice. Tell the truth. Do noble things. It's not about being right but doing the right things. Have pure thoughts (truthful, noble, righteous). Enjoy God's lovely creation. Honor what is admirable. The fruit of all this is the God of peace will be with us. 

Word of the Day: Redeemed, Christ redeemed you.

With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,

the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

Psalms 77:15 NIV

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 

1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV

As you head into Friday remember that you are redeemed. Christ bought you, paid off your debts of sin (past, present and future). He redeemed you. He is your righteousness. He is your holiness. 

Christ did not come to give us a second chance at being righteous. We weren't saved to seek holiness by our own efforts. No, he redeemed us to live by faith in his righteousness, holiness. 

Because of Him

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 

1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV

This is, for me, one of my go to verses. When I'm feeling condemned, I remember that Christ Jesus is my righteousness, holiness and redemption. Where is my righteousness? How am I holy? Who redeems me? In Christ Jesus. 

So, I encourage you to remember this verse and when you read about righteousness, holiness and redemption, remember that God in his wisdom gave all that to us in Christ.  

Persistent Aim

To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 

Romans 2:7 NIV

I don't want to get into the deep theology found here in Romans 2, although I really do love it when I get the opportunity. I just want to note that as Christians we already know we are saved by grace but, we want to enjoy that grace on a daily basis. That's why we read the Bible, go to church and view sites that might encourage us to press on in our faith. 

I think persistence in doing good leads to the fruit of faith. In persistence of faith lived out we can enjoy a foretaste of eternal life in the present. We seek to glorify God. We seek to honor God. We seek immortality found in faith in Christ. 

The great golfer Ben Hogan once said, “Every day that I missed practicing takes me one day longer to be good.” Let's flip that and apply it to us. Every day we seek his kingdom and righteousness we enjoy the fruits of righteousness. 

The Word of the Day: Righteousness

Remember, he is our righteousness. It's not something we did or do, it what he did on the cross. May God bless you and keep you in his grace.

Righteousness and Restoration

I stand, by and in your righteousness. Your righteousness restores me. Thank you, Lord Jesus, reign in me and my family today.

Crossing Over

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 

John 5:24 NIV

About a week ago I was at a training with a few others staff members from the school I work at. We were working on a presentation and one of my colleagues Air Dropped me a video we created. I forgot that you could do that. When I got home I Air Dropped my wife a few photos I had taken of our son and I hiking. 

It may not be news to you that when you believe in Christ you have eternal life, you won't be judged, and you'll cross over from death to life, but, maybe you might need to remember a truth or two. Maybe you might have forgotten that Christ's death on the cross means he bore the judgement for you sins on the cross so, now you don't have to live under condemnations' cloud. Perhaps you need a gentle reminder that life in Christ is abundant life, true life, eternal life. Or you just need a firm, tell like it is message: "You're a Christian, live like one." Remember, in Christ you've crossed over to a new life.  

Proclaim the Righteousness of God in Christ!

Three To Be in Christ

In your majesty ride forth victoriously
   in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness,
let your right hand display awesome deeds. 
Psalm 45:4

Most of the time, we are known for what we do. What we say matters only if we practice what we preach. Being a man or woman of truth, humility and righteousness is a fine legacy indeed. 

I could give a nice little exposition of theses verses and how they relate to marriage and to Christ. But as a devotional I just want to key in on the idea that Christ is the truth, he humbled himself and he is our righteousness. 

In John 14:6 "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.""

In Philippians 2 Paul reminds us that Christ "humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on the cross" and that attitude of humility is the same one we should have.

When speaking of boasting the apostle poignantly reminds the Corinthians, "It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is our righteousness, holiness and redemption."  

How does this apply to us today? It's pretty straight forward isn't it? I should be truthful, but with love. I should be humble which means to know who I am in Christ and serve others accordingly. I should also openly remember that Christ is my righteousness and act with his righteousness in all my encounters today. 

Whose Clothes Are You Wearing?

The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes."
   Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you." Zechariah 3:4

This is such a great picture of the grace of God. Because of sin we are filthy. The reality being that we can't clothe or clean ourselves. He takes away our sin and clothes us in his righteousness. In I Corinthians 1:30 Paul reminds us that the work of Christ on the cross makes Christ our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 

Take a moment to remember that your sins are forgiven and you are clothed in the righteousness of Christ Jesus, the Lord. 

Are You Humble?

Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land,
   you who do what he commands.
Seek righteousness, seek humility;
   perhaps you will be sheltered
   on the day of the LORD'S anger.
Zephaniah 2:3

I think a mark of humility is seeking God because you recognize that he is God and you are not. The arrogance of the agnostic is that s/he thinks they can stand in judgement of God and therefore can choose to act in the righteousness they define. 

But, only God is good. All our righteousness comes from God in Christ. Because he first loved us we seek to obey his command to love as he first loved us. That is righteousness. 

The day of judgement will come, whether or not people believe it. Seek righteousness in Christ. Seek to know who you are in Christ - humility is found there. He is our shelter now and he will be our shelter in the day of judgement. 

Is It a Choice?

Sow righteousness for yourselves,
   reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;
   for it is time to seek the Lord,
until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.
Hosea 10:12 (NIV)

When you simplify walking by faith it boils down to knowing what the right thing to do is and doing it and trusting God with the results. 

I look at it like this: Was going to work yesterday the right thing to do? Yes. (I know that's a gimme, but, bear with me.) There are many choices we make every day that are simple, but righteous choices. The challenging part is when I must choose to respond to difficult people, circumstances or outright temptations. Yet again it will narrow down to a simple choice to do the right thing.

Sow righteousness by choosing righteousness.

See the ball, hit the ball.

Come, my children, listen to me;
   I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Whoever of you loves life
   and desires to see many good days,
   keep your tongue from evil 
   and your lips from telling lies.
Turn from evil and do good;
   seek peace and pursue it.
Psalms 34:11-14 (NIV)

Tommy Lasorda, the Dodgers Hall of Fame manager, said his theory of hitting was, "See the ball, hit the ball." Spiritually speaking that's sort of what David is saying in Psalm 34. If you want a good life, fear God. If you ask how you fear God he says to manage what you say and manage what you do. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

THE BOTTOM LINE

People can and will say many things about what is right and wrong, good and evil and what happens in the end. But the bottom line is that God has the final word. 

Now all has been heard;
   here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
   for this is the duty of all mankind.
For God will bring every deed into judgment,
   including every hidden thing,
   whether it is good or evil.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NIV)

TEN YEARS,OR ONE YEAR TEN TIMES?

"In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who  lives on milk, being still and infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness." Hebrews 5:12-13  

Here is a tough question: Have you been a Christian ten years (or however long you have been a Christian) or one year ten times? 

The author of Hebrews lays it on the line and says that by that time in their Christian experience they should of been teaching someone else about the righteousness of God in Christ by faith that they were experiencing. Instead they were still struggling with the elementary truths of God's word again! 

Tell me this doesn't sound like most of the church today. I have to ask myself, does it sound like me? Ask yourself, does it sound like you? 

One of my mentors used to say, "I sleep good at night because I take advantage of the cross. Not abuse it, just accepting what Christ has done for me." My pastor yesterday reminded us that he always says at the beginning of the year that he will be surprised but God will not. So very true. 

The good news of the gospel is that Christ died for our sins and that when we accept that, when we confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, we willed be saved (Romans 10:9-10). God is not surprised by anything that we go through. Think of it this way, he died for our sins - past, present and future. 

Now what does faith have for me today?

Father, thank you for your forgiveness. Thank you Jesus for being our righteousness. Help us to build upon the truth of righteousness by faith! Praise be to you in us today!

BOASTFUL THANKS

"He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast  before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom of God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."" I Corinthians 1:28-31

Thank you, Lord, for being our righteousness, holiness and redemption! 

What are you thankful for! 

DON'T PANIC, SEEK THESE FOUR: II Timothy 2:21-22

"Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." II Timothy 2:22

Only one thought on fleeing. Notice Paul does not say to think, pray, or resist. He just says, "Flee". Don't think, just flee. 

I once was at a situation where someone threw a military grade tear-gas canister into a high school basketball game. People just ran out in complete panic, knocking each other down and running every which way. It was mayhem. Sometimes I think that is what our attempts at repentance look like. We're all over the place, knocking into things, just doing anything. Paul gives a four specific spiritual points to seek.

First he tells us to seek righteousness, then faith, love and peace. The opposite of evil desires is righteousness, acting Christ like. Acting Christlike is faith in action. Remember in I Timothy 5:1-2 Paul had exhorted Timothy to treat others, and specifically younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. To act righteously is to love as Christ loved us. Faith in action is manifested in love. When you act righteously, by faith, in love, you will be at peace with God and others. Seeking God this way with others who call on the Lord out of pure hearts is what church is all about. That's Christianity. 

Father, help us to seek righteousness, faith, love and peace together in Christ. Praise be to you in us today!