RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT OPTIONAL

:As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that
pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.
Proverbs 11:19
Read: Hosea 10:12
10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in
mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time
to seek the LORD, till he come and rain
righteousness upon you.
Message
It is interesting to note that the righteousness
that mankind has detested from generation to
generation, right from the fall, is not optional!
Many scholars have endeavoured to explain away
what righteousness entails and play down its
importance to the point that sermons that
encourage righteous living are now scarce. Sweet
and pet talks have replaced sermons that demand
righteous living. That is why St. Paul admonished
his spiritual son, Timothy thus:
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of
season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long
suffering and doctrine. For the time will come
when they will not endure sound doctrine; but
after their own lusts shall they heap to
themselves teachers, having itching ears." 2
Timothy 4:2-3
There are some lessons to be learnt from the
above scriptures; firstly, sermons that will
produce righteous living must contain reproof,
rebuke, exhortation and doctrine. Secondly, there
is a time in the life of a Christian pilgrim when he
will have to make himself intentionally available
to reproof and rebuke. This is because, after a
long stay in the Church environment, which might
have earned him titles, he might no longer be
teachable.
Thirdly, righteous living requires indoctrination;
doctrines that are sound. In other words, there
are doctrines that are not sound. So, believers
must beware of doctrines of the devil.
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the
latter times some shall depart from the faith,
giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of
devils;" 1 Timothy 4:1
Today, some children of God make righteousness
an optional virtue to their own danger because
the scripture cannot be broken. It says:
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without
which no man shall see the Lord."
Hebrews 12:14
Beloved, it is true we shall be ultimately saved by
grace. This is why we must pray for that grace to
live righteously without struggle, because there is
no grace in struggle. This is what makes the
Christian faith unique. Our God is able to help us
live for Him if we are willing and obedient. If we
will not rationalise sin but admit it as it is and
cry to God for help. The Bible says:
"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath
appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present
world. " Titus 2:11-12
I pray that as you desire righteousness today, the
grace of God will bring it upon your life in Jesus'
name.
Prayer Point:
Father, let your grace abound in my heart so that
I may begin to live life pleasing to you as from
now on in Jesus' name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Colossians 1-4 and Psalms 19:1-6
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
HYMN 4: TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE
Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose,
Every power as Thou shalt choose.
Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart; it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,