Righteous Living

What does it mean to live a righteous life?  I think you should ask yourself this question: how can anyone be righteous in the first place, when all of us were born in sin and iniquity?  God’s word says for all have sinned and fell short of the glory of God, and along with that it also says this, that there is none righteous no not one.  Read what King David said when he was confronted with his sin with Bathsheba, in Psalms 51:1-8:

“Have mercy upon me, O God,

According to Your lovingkindness;

According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,

Blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

And cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my transgressions,

And my sin is always before me.

Against You, You only, have I sinned,

And done this evil in Your sight—

That You may be found just when You speak,

And blameless when You judge.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

And in sin my mother conceived me.

Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,

And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me hear joy and gladness,

That the bones You have broken may rejoice.”

David realized his sinful condition before the Lord, and for about a year he was miserable because of it.  Then David repented and confessed his sin and was restored by the grace and mercy and forgiveness of God!!  That’s why God said that David was a man after His own heart, because He loved the Lord and confessed and turned from his sins, or repented for his sins, when he needed to.  He didn’t just say a repentant prayer, nor did he just change his mind, but he acted on the confession that he made and showed his repentance by his actions.  He didn’t just mouth a prayer and walk away unaffected because of an emotional high or just worldly sorrow.  He had godly sorrow that leads to repentance which leads to salvation.

This is what each of us needs to do.  We need to acknowledge our sin and respond with godly sorrow that leads to repentance unto salvation.  When we do this sincerely, the Lord will hear and forgive and cleanse us of all unrighteousness up to that point in our lives.  We will be covered by the blood of Jesus and His righteousness, praise the Lord!!  Don’t be fooled by the ‘hyper grace’ movement that teaches once you are saved your past, present and future sins have been forgiven and you never have to repent again; the word of God does not teach that.  

What does it look like to live a truly righteous life?  It looks like a transformed life and resembles a new creation.  It is loving God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind and your neighbor as yourself.  It is doing to others as you would have them do unto you.  It is demonstrating the fruits of the Spirit.  It is taking up your cross and denying yourself and following the Lord every day.  It is the willingness to say you are wrong, when you are, without finding fault.  It is the willingness to forgive others when they have sinned against you.  It is walking humbly before God without false humility.  It is keeping your vows and promises.  It is seeking God’s heart and not just His hands.  And there is so much more that I could put down here, but I think you got the message.

I am not saying I do all these things, but I am striving to do these things and more and I hope you are as well.  I hope this has been an encouragement and help to you.  May the good Lord bless you and yours and may you have a super day!!