Tag: righteousness

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Heaven Has a Dress Code

Daily Reading

Matthew 22-23

Daily Thought

Jesus described God’s kingdom as a wedding feast, and the celebration promises to be spectacular, “my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.” (Matthew 22:4). Everyone is invited, but many do not accept the invitation–“they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business” (Matthew 22:5). Perhaps it was the dress code. Yes, heaven has a dress code. “Friend,” the king asked, “how did you get in here without a wedding garment?” (Matthew 23:12). 

There is an attitude in those who “make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues” (Matthew 23:5-6). They dress for success and exalt themselves, but Jesus exposes their woefulness with the harshest of words, “you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence; you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones; you serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell” (Matthew 23:25, 27, 33). That is quite a rampage over clothes.

Jesus is exposing what the clothes are covering, their hearts. “They do all their deeds to be seen by others” (Matthew 23:5); but seen by God, “all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment” (Isaiah 64:6), like filthy rags. You do not wear filthy rags to God’s party, thus, the dress code, the need for our wedding garment. Oh, but there is good news, the clothing is free, bought by the groom and offered to you, “he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10). Just accept the invitation to the wedding.

Daily Prayer

Holy God, remove from my heart all that stains who I am. Clean me from the inside-out. Dying for my sins, Your Son made me new again, then clothed me in his righteousness. I wear these clothes with pride, not because they make make me look good (which they do), but because they show off Your glory.

May I wear boldly your clothes of righteousness every day so that people see Your salvation.

Amen

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Chapters of Wrath

Daily Reading

Jeremiah 46-48

Daily Thought

God utilized the enemies of Israel to discipline his children, but it does not make virtuous the enemies’ violence. These nations were all too willing to strike God’s chosen, and lest they glory in their victories, the Lord executes the promise of retribution he gave to Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse” (Genesis 12:3). God’s sword now turns toward justice against the Egyptians and the Philistines, the Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor, Elam, and Babylon.

These nations assaulted Israel and ought fear the looming wrath of God and run. And run they will, but “he who flees from the terror shall fall into the pit, and he who climbs out of the pit shall be caught in the snare (Jeremiah 48:44). Out of the frying pan, into the fire, so to speak, and God’s judgment is sure. There will be no place to run, hide, or escape. 

God’s terror of righteousness against those opposed to righteousness creates an awful clamor, and Jeremiah cries, “Ah, sword of the Lord! How long till you are quiet? Put yourself into your scabbard; rest and be still!” (Jeremiah 47:6). The Bible is a book of love, yet there are chapters of wrath, and this must be. A holy love demands a holy hatred of evil. “How can it be quiet when the Lord has given it a charge?” (Jeremiah 47:7), responds the Almighty. These nations desired neither grace nor God, and thus, the sword.

Daily Prayer

Righteous God of Justice, You are holy. Thank You for salvation, because I deserve Your wrath. My righteousness does not measure up–it is as filthy rags. And my unrighteousness, well, I’m good at that. You have covered my sin by the blood of Your Son who took my sins and, thus, bore Your wrath. There is, therefore, now no condemnation because Your justice is true and satisfied and the righteousness of Your Son is now mine. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2Corinthians 5:21). Thank You.

Amen

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Righteousness

Daily Reading

Jeremiah 23-25

Daily Thought

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’” ~Jeremiah 23:5-6

Jeremiah speaks of Jesus and it is good that God will make him king because we would never elect him. Not with that slogan. Browse our bumper stickers and web banners and you will find words such as hope and peace and love and justice, but never righteousness. We do not place value in righteousness. 

We bought our first home and it needed a retaining wall in the backyard, so I headed to Home Depot with the measurements. I gave the clerk the height and length of the wall and he sold me the blocks. Too many blocks, I thought, and I questioned him and discovered an additional row of blocks called the footer must be buried underground. I did not like to pay for a row of blocks that would never be seen, but the wall would never stand without them. 

This is righteousness. It is not for show (Matthew 6:1, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them”) and comes with a cost (Matthew 5:10, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake”), righteousness is buried beneath the surface, but hope and peace and love and justice will not stand without it. 

Daily Prayer

My Heavenly Father, Your Word is good, it fills me and keeps me going. It is what I live on. That’s what Jesus said, more than bread, every word from Your mouth gives me a life that is full and vibrant.

May I feast on what the right food, what brings light and life into my world, rather than the dark and empty words that waste to nothing. May I fill myself with words of hope and faith and love, grace and truth, justice and righteousness.

Amen

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The Wedding

Daily Reading

Isaiah 59-63

Daily Thought

Our wedding had been my wife’s dream since little girls begin dreaming. Debbie can tell you every detail; I distinctly remember one: 8,500 pearls. A friend made her gown. It was white silk, long train, beautiful, and 8,500 little pearls were hand-sewn one at a time into the fabric of that dress. That’s a lot of pearls and a lot of sewing.

God has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. ~Isaiah 61:10

Debbie was dazzling and heavenly and beautiful. This was her dream, to look her best for the man she loved, and I was that man.

“Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure-
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.” ~Revelation 19:7-8

We are that bride, Jesus is the man, and there will be a wedding. Something to look forward to. Someone to prepare for. Our righteous deeds are the pearls.

Daily Prayer

My God, when you are betrothed to the King, when you are engaged to our Savior, when you are promised to Jesus Christ, then the flirting ends. How many times do we still smile and wink at the world, the flesh, and the devil?

Our acts, what we do, these are the fine silk linen, the pearls sown on the bridal gown of the bride of Jesus Christ. May all of our lives be preparation for the wedding.

Amen

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The Little Green Car

Daily Reading

Isaiah 54-58

Daily Thought

He drives fast, whips around a little green car who is not in a hurry, and speeds ahead. The next light is red. Brake. Accelerate. Brake again. A “Speed Checked By Radar” sign, his eyes dart from the rear view mirror to the road ahead and back to the mirror. He will see the cop before the cop sees him. Switching lanes for the 20th time in 12 miles, the last turn is ahead. He checks his watch. Fifteen minutes. Not bad. His shoulder aches.  “Why am I so tense?” he wonders, as he rubs it.  

“There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” ~Isaiah 57:21

He turns the corner and, one last time, glances at the mirror, spying the little green car coasting through the intersection, 30 seconds behind. The guy in the green car, his shoulders feel fine.

For the righteous man is taken away from calamity;
he enters into peace;
they rest in their beds
who walk in their uprightness. ~Isaiah 57:1-2

Peace and rest are found only in righteousness.

Daily Prayer

God of Peace, when I follow You, when I walk on the path You lay before me, when I pursue righteousness, I live confidently and I enjoy peace. What a wonderful feeling it is, Father, to think back on my day without shame. To smile because I made You smile. To know that I do not fear getting caught because I have nothing to hide. To live in the truth because I told no lies. 

God, when I do what is right, I find rest. And it’s a lot easier to talk with You.

Amen

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Truth Is

Daily Reading

Job 32-34

Daily Thought

The sign posted at the University said, “It isn’t wrong to think you’re right, but it isn’t right to think others are wrong.” Sounds so charitable, so fair, nice even.

The ballplayer slides into second, the shortstop tags him, and the umpire calls, “You’re out!” It’s just a game, but try selling that to the team in blue. The call just killed a rally. The call is a travesty against all that is just and good and right in the universe. The blue coach screams, “Are you blind? He missed the tag!” The umpire explains, “I think I got it right. But, hey, I’m not saying you’re wrong, either.”

You can’t get away with something ridiculous like, “I think I’m right, but I don’t think you’re wrong.” Sports do not permit this. Truth and justice do not permit this. And neither does life permit this. Truth is. That’s it. That’s the whole definition. Life has rules. Right and wrong, good and evil, moral and immoral exist. Every seven-year old can tell you when something is or is not fair. 

Elihu, a young man, waited until his elders and Job were done talking, then he had something to say. Six chapters worth. The core of his argument is the justice of God, “Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice” (Job 34:12).

The Almighty will not pervert justice, and we are rule breakers. We want everyone to be able to do his or her own thing, because we want to do our own thing. We who seek a world where no one is wrong cannot change the rulebook, so we try to rid ourselves the umpire.

When Elihu stops talking (3 more chapters), we will hear from the umpire. “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said…” (Job 38:1). God has the final word and he always will.

Daily Prayer

Sovereign God, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Your ways are good, right, and just. They are also loving. You are, at the same time, my Loving Father and my Righteous Judge. Why would I want to live in a world not ruled by righteousness? And yet, I do. 

Your Word seems foreign to this world, because this world would rather rule itself, and the results are not good. I can serve the kingdom of man or the Kingdom of God, but not both. The choice is clear, and I choose to be ruled by righteousness. I will follow You.

Amen

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The Eyes of God

Daily Reading

2Chronicles 18-20

Daily Thought

Judah had been allies with Israel and things needed to change. Ahab, king of Israel, the husband of wicked Jezebel. “reigned over Israel twenty-two years, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him” (1Kings 16:29-30). Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, desired a better epitaph. 

Jehoshaphat’s reformation of Judah began with the court of law. He appointed judges in the land, in all the cities, with one instruction, “Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the Lord. He is with you in giving judgment (2Chronicles 19:6).

I remember watching a movie with my college buddies. They laughed and I laughed. I watched the same movie several years later with my mom. She frowned and I squirmed. Funny how the same movie is different depending on whose eyes you see it through.

“He is with you in giving judgment.” To gaze through the eyes of God is to see sin with more horror, beauty with more wonder, righteousness with more desire. God would be with them, judging alongside them. “Thus Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord” (2Chronicles 20:31-32).

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, righteous and good and holy, may I fill my eyes, my thoughts, my heart with heavenly things. May Your glory be reflected in all I do. Give me discernment to know what is right and what pleases You. When I ask You to give me the desires of my heart, God, I do not mean give me whatever I want. Rather, cause Your desires to become my deepest longing, so that whatever I want will reflect Your character.

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, may I fill my thoughts with these, with goodness, with truth, with grace, with faith, with hope, and most of all, with love.

Amen

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Take the Deal

Daily Reading

Leviticus 19-21

Daily Thought

Question: Why don’t Christians today obey all the laws and instructions of the Old Testament?

The short answer is, we did. That needs to be explained, doesn’t it?

Israel is the nation ruled by God, and “You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2). You shall be different than those other nations around you that are not the nation ruled by God. You shall be a nation set apart to me. Count how many times Leviticus 19 reminds Israel, “I am the LORD your God.” This long list of instructions tell the Israelites how to do “I am the LORD your God.” The chapter closes simply and straightforward: “Do them” (Leviticus 19:37).

Jesus did them.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17). He fulfilled all righteousness, then offered the most incredibly, ridiculously wonderful trade of all time: his righteousness for our sin.”For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2Corinthians 5:21).” Take the deal! We obeyed the Law when Jesus obeyed the Law, and we are righteous because he is righteous; his righteousness became ours.

This does not mean that the Law goes away. “You shall be holy, for I am holy” is in the New Testament, too (Matthew 5:48; 1Peter 1:16). Significant is a verse right in the middle of Leviticus 19, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (v 18). Jesus, who is holy, says loving your neighbor goes right along with loving God and this sums up everything, that all the Law and the Prophets hang on two commandments (Matthew 22:40). Jesus fulfilled all the Law so we can focus fully on its heart, to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:40). 

Daily Prayer

God, You so loved the world that You sent Your one and only Son. Anyone believing in Him will receive eternal life. In Your grace, You did not send Your Son to condemn me. In Your holiness, You would have been justified to do so, but Your Son became condemnation so I might receive justification in His Name.

The Name of Jesus is the Name above all names. May I never mix it with any others. May I always hold it high. May I walk in Your ways, increasing Your reputation in this world. May I humble myself and direct all glory to You.

Amen

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The Way It Is Supposed to Be

Daily Reading

Exodus 28-29

Daily Thought

“So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the Lord” (Exodus 28:29). The Hebrew high priest sacrificed daily offerings to God, a routine reminder of the way it is supposed to be.  

We become accustomed to the way things are.

In the movie Grand Canyon, a car breaks down in a bad part of town, and five hoods threaten a tow-truck driver doing his job. “Man,” says the driver, “the world ain’t supposed to work like this. Maybe you don’t know that, but this ain’t the way it’s supposed to be. I’m supposed to be able to do my job without askin’ you if I can. And that dude is supposed to be able to wait with his car without you rippin’ him off. Everything’s supposed to be different than what it is here.”

The work of the priests presents the difference, “And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty” (Exodus 28:2). For glory and for beauty, the way it is supposed to be. The way it was in Eden; the way it will be in the “kingdom come, your will be done” (Matthew 6:10).

This is the call of the Christian in this world, to be “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1Peter 2:9). To follow Jesus is to be a marvelous light, a reminder that this life is not the way it’s supposed to be, a beacon displaying something better, something good, something glorious and beautiful, that “they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God” (Exodus 29:46). 

Daily Prayer

My God, my Father in heaven, Creator of all that is, what a wonderful world. The world you created; not the part my sin has spoiled. Deep inside me, your image, the memory of eternity is buried. Thank you for uncovering it. Thank you for sending your Son to show what was, what is, and what is to come. You are God, the beginning and the end. Sin is messing with the middle, but you sent a Savior.  

God, made in your image, I shall reflect your glory. Forgive me, because I fall short. Teach me to walk in your ways, so others will see the way to You. Change me, dress me up, make me holy for your glory, displaying your beauty, your handiwork, proclaiming your excellencies, reminding the world that this is not what it is supposed to be, pointing the world to your kingdom come.

Amen