The Benefits Of Righteousness
Many people think that if they live a righteous life they will miss out on the fun of life. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Righteousness has many benefits, not the least of which are peace, quietness, and assurance. (Isaiah 32:17) A life without those three elements is far from happy and fulfilling.
Once we come to know Christ, He forgives our sins, and He gives us His righteousness to substitute for our human righteousness, which is like filthy rags. Then, when God looks at us He sees the righteousness of Christ, and He is pleased with us. (II Corinthians 5:21) That is when we come to have peace with God, and His peace fills our hearts. However, that peace can depart, if we fail to live in righteousness after we are saved. We need to keep growing in Christ and in obedience to His will to fully experience His peace every day. Even when we have trials, we can live in peace knowing we have done the right thing and we have not sinned in our dealings with God or with others.
This righteous life leads to quietness. Our lives are not filled with drama and discord. We are able to live in peace with others, as far as it depends on us.(Romans 12:17-21) The effect is a quietness of life that is amazing, because it sets us free from the stress that most people feel all of the time. Also, the effect of righteousness is assurance. Most people are hopeful that they have a good enough relationship with God to make it to heaven. They are always unsure, since they lack this assurance of righteousness. In other words, if we live in righteousness, it is a sure sign that God has changed us, and we are living in His favor. Therefore, we have a great assurance that we are His, and we are going to be with Him in heaven some day. These are truly the elements of a glorious life.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 33-35.
Once we come to know Christ, He forgives our sins, and He gives us His righteousness to substitute for our human righteousness, which is like filthy rags. Then, when God looks at us He sees the righteousness of Christ, and He is pleased with us. (II Corinthians 5:21) That is when we come to have peace with God, and His peace fills our hearts. However, that peace can depart, if we fail to live in righteousness after we are saved. We need to keep growing in Christ and in obedience to His will to fully experience His peace every day. Even when we have trials, we can live in peace knowing we have done the right thing and we have not sinned in our dealings with God or with others.
This righteous life leads to quietness. Our lives are not filled with drama and discord. We are able to live in peace with others, as far as it depends on us.(Romans 12:17-21) The effect is a quietness of life that is amazing, because it sets us free from the stress that most people feel all of the time. Also, the effect of righteousness is assurance. Most people are hopeful that they have a good enough relationship with God to make it to heaven. They are always unsure, since they lack this assurance of righteousness. In other words, if we live in righteousness, it is a sure sign that God has changed us, and we are living in His favor. Therefore, we have a great assurance that we are His, and we are going to be with Him in heaven some day. These are truly the elements of a glorious life.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 33-35.