Tag: righteousness

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The End Is Always Near

O men, how long shall my honor suffer shame? How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies? [Selah] But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him

Psalm 4:3-4

Have you anyone for whom you long to return to goodness and right living? Perhaps a wayward child or friend? They seem lost and you fear they shall not find repentance before the end of their days. David composed Psalm 4 as and ode to such feelings. He has confidence that God will hear his prayers and strengthen him in his distress, but still his heart yearns to see the return of his lost loved ones (vs. 1-2).

Prophetically, we hear the voice of Jesus calling out to the Father for His lost children. Jesus is the “Holy One” who was made “wondrous” (Septuagint version, vs. 4), the “godly” whose cry the Lord God always hears (Masoretic version, vs. 3).

It is a beautiful thought to know that Jesus is crying out to the Father for those who are lost. He knows the end is near. The end is always near for everyone. Whether Christ returns today to usher in the age to come, or if we die this day, our end is always near.

Are you one of His lost children? Perhaps you don’t even know how you got lost, you just woke up and found yourself far away from where you began. Take heart and know that Jesus is crying out for you to return to the Father. Have you any lost loved ones on your prayer list? Take comfort in knowing they’re on Jesus’ prayer list too.

There is a way to live that is righteous and good. Jesus says in the gospel the gate to righteousness is narrow and few are those who find it (Matt. 7:14). If you are struggling to make sense of life, won’t you tell your heartaches to your Father? God loves you and knows your concerns. Jesus is telling you it’s okay to be angry at the way things are going, but in your anger do not sin. Don’t blame God in your anger. Rather, lay down to rest tonight in repentance (vs. 4-5). Jesus will lead you in paths of righteousness. Remember, the end is nearer than when you began.

Shalom,

Pastor Brad

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What Goes Around, Comes Around

 

Waves of Mercy pentecost-1024x493It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice.

For the righteous will never be moved; they will be remembered forever.

Psalm 112:5-6

There’s an old saying I’ve always liked, “What goes around, comes around”. I guess I like it because it reminds me that things won’t always be the way they are. You know what I mean, things won’t always be so unjust. Our world is unjust in many of the affairs of people; lying, cheating, stealing, there’s seems to be no end to it. But, those who practice such kinds of injustice will eventually experience such injustice themselves, if not in this world, certainly in the next; though it will actually be what they deserve.

The proverb tells us that whatever behavior we spread around will eventually come back to us, good or bad. So, God’s people are to be beacons of righteousness in this dark world. Verse four of Psalm 112, says the righteous, “… rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and righteous. The righteous are to be God’s waves of mercy to our lost and hurting world.

Who doesn’t want to be remembered forever? Scoundrels are a dime a dozen and are quickly forgotten after they die, for they gave nothing back to the world. But, the truly good people, the righteous saints of God, those we remember. The Psalmist tells us the hallmarks of such people; they are generous and just, and they are not moved from the righteousness of the Lord. I want to be remembered as that kind of person and I’m sure you do too, but it all begins in our spirit. Jesus said people reap what they sow, and we can only sow what’s in our spirit. May our spirits be graceful, merciful, and righteous, both now and forever, because…what goes around, comes around.

Grace and Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

Righteous, Eternal Father, thank you for your waves of mercy in my life. Help me to be graceful, merciful and righteous in this world, and may my spirit be counted among the righteous, now and forever. Amen.

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The Secret of Fruitfulness

“10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ,to the glory and praise of God.”

Perfection, for us humans, can only be found within the context of Jesus’ resurrection. Quite often, we don’t even try to live a perfect life because it seems futile. We are reminded over and over each day that we are fallible. But, the life of Christ calls us to be sincere in our efforts for righteousness.

It seems we too often forget that all our “fruits of righteousness” are “by Jesus Christ,”. Without the resurrection power of Jesus at work in our hearts we have nothing with which to truly praise God. He raised us up in His power to live righteous and holy lives; that’s the message of new life in Christ that comes to us at Easter. Should we not then try to live holy?

The power of the resurrection was actualized in the life of the first believers on the day of Pentecost. The risen Christ had ascended but He had not left them alone, and neither does He leave us alone. We have the Holy Spirit who brings resurrection power to our lives; He is the secret power of our fruitfulness.

I find great hope in St. Paul’s encouragement to the Philippians to “approve the things that are excellent,” and to “live without offense”. If you aren’t seeing any fruitfulness in your life, perhaps you haven’t discovered the right source of power – the secret of His fruitfulness. As you begin a new day, won’t you consider how you should be living. Put your trust in Jesus to bring His fruits to bear in your life.

Remember, Christ is risen…and so are you!

Grace & Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

Lord of life, you call all people to be holy. Show me the fruit of your resurrection blooming in my life, that I may approve all things that are excellent to the glory of your Name. Amen. Alleluia!

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