What is Righteous?

-

































The word Righteous has been sticking in my head… I watch that show “Adam Probably Saves the World” (which I LOVE!).  The show is the only place I’ve heard the word anywhere else besides church, that I could recall. I heard “You self righteous SOB!!!” before but I am pretty sure that was not the way righteous was supposed to be used.. I’ve heard about righteousness at church for sure!!  But that’s really about it.
I thought righteousness or being a righteous person was something difficult to obtain.  I thought righteousness was something earned. I thought pretty much only nuns were righteous.  And pastors, preachers, and Mother Teresa are all righteous, but not little ol me!


Shoot, I evict people from their homes on a regular basis with my job!  How in the world am I going to become a righteous person?!?!?


I decided to look up the word RIGHTEOUS! According to Merriam-Webster, Righteous is defined as: 1) acting in accord with divine or moral law:  free from guilt or sin 2) morally right or justifiable.


According to the Bible: This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 3: 22- 23
I understand that to mean that no one person or sin is less or more than another’s.  So all sins are created equal in the eyes of God… and it also means that all people are righteous that believe in Jesus Christ.
My thoughts: “SO hold up!  I CAN be righteous! I might already be on the path of righteousness!  That’s cool!”
Now to bring righteousness to everyday life.  My understanding of righteousness in my everyday life is doing the right thing.  “What is the right thing” is typically the harder question to answer. For me, the answer is “is this going to give me ‘heartburn’ later?” Meaning, am I going to regret this later or feel bad when I look back on this decision?   The right thing is not always easy!!! The right thing can cause pain, but your moral compass should point you in the right direction. And the right direction is not always centered around you, just FYI.. (I hate it when that happens too, by the way!)   
The next part of righteousness is being free from guilt.. This for me looks like coming to terms with my shortcomings and being OK with them.  I also tell God all about my shortcomings in the shower or in the car, so he can deal with them and not me! I have enough to worry about! I ask God to let me be free and he does..   
The last part of righteousness is not having to worry about the other shoe dropping..the next problem around the corner....and what you can't handle. You know it’s ok because you did the right thing and God doesn’t leave his children behind. If it’s still bad, it’s not over yet!
Be Different Folks!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

It's Like Christmas Morning!

-
Image
We are currently 16 weeks into The Secret Garden project.  I love this house. I love this project. I am having a wonderful time.  I swear this house is like Christmas morning everyday! How, you say? Well, just let me tell ya all about it!  Once I came to check on the house and its progress.  The new doors had just been installed. It looked exactly like I pictured in my mind and I cried a little. Like that time you got the gift you wanted so bad for Christmas and you were just so overcome with joy you couldn't hold it in anymore. Another time I came to check on progress and the copper awning had been cleaned and polished by the guys.  I wasn’t anticipating it to be finished. I didn’t think it was on the agenda for this week. If I could do a heel kick jump I totally would have, but acrobatics are not my strong suit!  I knew it would look just like new once finished, but everyone thought I was crazy... they couldn’t see it, but I could! ...
Read more

Why were you invited?

-
Image
Are you being invited to church?  Did you go? If not, why? I know!!  Because you were too tired, you were too busy, you aren’t into church right now.  Whatever the reason, I am sure you have one. I had one too at one time. Now I think those were silly reasons, but I get it!! The most popular excuse -and mine for a long time — is wanting to sleep.  Are you too tired? You are tired because you are working too hard trying to do everything.  You are too tired because you worry all night instead of sleeping. You are too tired because you are trying too hard for no reason. You are trying to be God.  That's not your department.  You are not in charge of everything.  You cannot keep all the “balls in the air” at the same time.  You cannot help everyone and help yourself at the same time. You cannot be all things to all people.  You cannot control all things at all times. You cannot be God. I figured all that out from go...
Read more

What's your excuse?

-
Image
I may be a closet procrastinator. If I am not in the mood to do something I can find a million reasons why I can’t...or didn’t… Especially in my personal life.  When someone asks why haven’t you done _______? Or what’s the hold up? Or what’s the deal? Boy, I am full of excuses… Are you?    Work, for me, is different most of the time..  I don’t have the luxury of dragging my feet much.  At work, everything is on a time schedule. If I miss the schedule, things are worse for me, so I march on at work, but at home?….or in my personal life?….I can be slow as a snail... I have noticed that when something did not work out as well as I wanted the first time, I tend to sweep it aside.  Exercise - I did not see instant results - that can wait. I am just going to have more clothes to fold tomorrow - those can wait.  It will rain in a day or two - the plants will be fine - opps they died…. For example, I was working on this exact blog...a...
Read more