Acts of righteousness can be described by maintaining the right conduct before God and man. It is easy to know the right course of action we should take. However, performing that rightful conduct is often challenging.
We know what is
right before God by reading and studying the His word. Paul stated, “Therefore,
do not be unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians
5:17). The more we know of the word of God, the better prepared we will be in
making wise spiritual decisions.
The Lord spoke
through His prophet Micah telling us what is righteous in His sight. He stated,
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of
you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”
(Micah 6:8)
Doing justly
means doing what is fair and honest. Sometimes this is a challenge. For
example, when a cashier gives you back more change than you were owed how do
you respond? The easiest course of action is not to say anything and just walk
away. However, a Christian dedicated to righteous living would make it right.
Loving mercy is
more than a willingness to show it. Anyone can show mercy from a begrudging
heart. However, when one loves mercy, he longs to show it to others. When it comes
to forgiveness for example, there is no hesitation from a righteous heart to
extend forgiveness to another person.
God is that way
with us. Peter stated that God is, “…longsuffering toward us, not willing
that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter
3:9). The forgiving nature of God reminds us of the prodigal son’s father. He
was not waiting to condemn his son, but waiting for his return so that
forgiveness could be extended, and a celebration could be enjoyed. We exercise
righteousness when we forgive others.
Finally, being
righteous includes walking humbly with our God. It is the humble heart that
yields itself to the will of God. It is the humble heart that forsakes his own
will, his own preconceived ideas, and actively seeks to do what is right before
the heavenly Father.
Think of Naaman
who was angry at first when he heard the conditions for his cleansing of
leprosy. He had his own thoughts and plans as to how the healing should take
place. When he finally humbled himself, and did what the Lord required, then he
was healed.
God certainly
desires us to live righteously before Him. We can exercise ourselves toward
righteousness when we do what is just, we love mercy, and we walk humbly with
our God. In so doing, we will have works of righteousness and glorify our
Almighty Creator!
God Bless each
of you,
Eric Hicks
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