You Righteous Ones

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You Righteous Ones

It’s amazing  what God calls  “righteous”.     In our imaginations,  a righteous person never ever  does anything wrong — does all sorts  of good works — attends church and Bible study regularly — is the pillar  of the community — and is always  on time.     Well,  that leaves me out.

King David talks about how he tried  to hide his sins,  and when he did,  God Almighty  laid a heavy hand on him.    Day and night David groaned  under God’s pressure,  until he acknowledged his sins  and confessed them all.     Then,  the Lord forgave him,  gave him relief  from the heavy-handed burdens,  and put a song  in his heart — once again.

David confessed  that his sins were wicked rebellion,  but he also realized  that God is merciful,  forgiving,  and loving.     That sort of trust and faith  led God to forgive David  and count him as being  “righteous”.     When David sings  about his experience,  he ends Psalm 32 with verses 10 and 11,  by saying,

Many are the sorrows  of the wicked;    
But he who trusts  in the LORD,  lovingkindness shall surround him.    
Be glad  in the LORD  and rejoice  you righteous ones,    
And shout for joy  all you  who are upright in heart.

Just as it was with David years ago,  so it is with us today.     When we hide our sins,  God will lay a heavy hand  on us,  so that we will groan  with our guilt and depressed feelings.     We just feel troubled and unhappy  all the time.      Then,  when we lay all our sins  at the feet of Jesus Christ  and ask Him  to forgive us  for His name’s sake,  our whole burden of guilt  will be taken away.     We will be free and enjoy the blessings  of God’s personal love.

When we confess and repent,  the LORD  calls us  “you righteous ones”.     Acknowledgement of our sins  and repenting of them  before our Savior  actually makes us  “righteous”.      Confession and repentance  are simply  a part  of trust and faith  in God’s love for us.

When  we’re not trusting  in the proven love of God,  we’re going to want to hide our sins.     We will want to hide them  because of our fear of punishment.     We will never be happy  when we’re not trusting God.     Instead,  we’ll have all sorts of fightings and fears  in our hearts and minds.     We might not even be able  to figure out  what makes us so unsettled  and dissatisfied.     But,  it is God trying to get us  to fess up.

We will become  “righteous”  only when we confess,  repent,  and trust in God’s forgiveness.     As God declares us righteous  for Jesus’  sake,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord,  You made us  and You know us inside and out.     You know how very much we need  to confess and repent  of our sins.     You know how greatly we need Your forgiveness,  so that we may become righteous  through faith  in Jesus Christ alone.     Thank You  for Your faithfulness  in leading us  to lay all our burdens of guilt  on Jesus.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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