DAY 30 - RIGHTEOUSNESS

“You won't be able to say, 'Here it is!' or 'It's over there!' For the Kingdom of God is already among you.” (Lk. 17:21, NLT)

How does someone learn the difference between right and wrong? Children should learn the difference from their parents. But, what about the parents? Better yet, what about society? How does a society determine what is right and what is wrong? Some say the greater culture of a given society determines what is acceptable behavior. Is it not odd that all societies hold to the same basic principles of governance? All have statutes prohibiting murder, theft, sexual misconduct, and cheating. Certainly, each society will define these behaviors differently, but the principles are still the same.

I believe God has placed a set of moral principles inside of every person. We somehow naturally know the difference between right and wrong. It is up to each one of us whether we ignore this understanding or not.

The word righteousness is written throughout scripture. Jesus warned that if our righteousness did not exceed that of the Pharisees, then we would not see the Kingdom of God (Mt. 5:20). Note that the Pharisees were very religious people who followed the law to the tee. In fact, they would make new laws to follow to insure they wouldn’t come close to breaking the original ones. Now, Jesus says that our righteousness must exceed theirs. The Lord was not talking about the kind of righteousness found in laws. Rather, it is found in the natural order of the human conscious. The basic definition of the word righteousness found in the New Testament is “doing what is right.” We can also say it is doing what is good, what is fair, and what is honorable. When we do these things out of love for God and for neighbor, we are not far away from the Kingdom of Heaven.

IronMaker’s Daily Challenge:  Decide to do what is right, good, fair, and honorable today regardless of how hard that may be. You may even have to go out of your way to perform this for another person.

Prayer:  Lord, continue to teach me what is good in your sight and may your righteousness fill this land; may your servants give you the glory in all things. Amen.

Rev. Dennis Gossett