Approach God In Righteousness

"Forgiveness is negative. Righteousness is positive. Forgiveness is you may go. Righteousness is you may come."  - Tim Keller

Most have heard the phrase, "Practice makes perfect." It's often used when we want to get the point across that only by the regular application of a skill or activity will a person reach proficiency at it.

There's a lot to be said about doing something repetitively under we finally get it right. We learned how to walk, talk, hold a fork, even tie our shoes in this fashion. Much of our formal education was based on constant practice.

However, there is one thing that we could never attain on our own no matter how many times, or how long we might exercise or repeat it. I am referring to human righteousness as per the Bible standard (Romans 3:23).

You see, perfection, the sort found in God, is totally unattainable by any of us. To acquire it we would have to match his perfection attribute to attribute, attitude to attitude, behavior to behavior, and word for word.

God set the bar pretty high. Thankfully, there's hope and a chance for all of us to gain true righteousness; or God's perfection. This is made possible to us through the purging of sin by Jesus Christ, and by the Holy Spirit who resides in us.

When Jesus was on the cross he took on our sins, all of them, and exchanged them for God's perfect righteousness. And by this unconditional and compassionate act you and I can one day stand in God's presence, sinless (Psalm 11:7).

Imagine, on that glorious day, God will not only see us cleansed of our sin, but the holy righteousness of Jesus will be distinctively evident in us, as well. Take a minute and let this soak in. It's all pretty amazing!

Thus, as a result, we are now righteous in God's eyes. You and I are not only welcomed, but treated as righteous by Him. This, all because of what Jesus did for us. Once we were held to standards that were impossibly out of reach, but no longer (Philippians 3:9).

We are the recipients of this, both, priceless and costly gift of righteousness from the most merciful and graceful God. The vile and impure have been transformed; the dejected and desperate are now sinless and righteous. Hosanna!

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:30; Philippians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18; John 3:16

Prayer: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, amen.   - Ephesians 1:3

May God lead your path,

Lee