September 3, 1998, Thursday

Do you believe there is truly a righteous person? Is there

someone you know that is always in the right? What is right

thinking and is there such a thing as being politically correct?

Does being a "good person" make a person righteous?

Isaiah tells us that there is no one righteous, no not one.

Paul tells us that all of us have sinned and "missed the mark".

Every man, woman, boy, and girl have sinned and failed the

test to be a righteous person. There are many "good people"

who obey all the regulations of society, but they have failed

to meet God's qualifications for righteousness.

Isaiah also tells us that our own perception of our own good

works is not correct. In God's eyes, our own righteousness is

like filthy rags. We make an error by judging ourselves by the

wrong standard. The only correct standard is the righteousness

of God. Some disregard that standard because they believe it to

be unattainable. That notion is correct by man's standards.

Jesus told His disciples that unless their righteousness exceeded

the righteousness of the devout religious leaders of their day, they

would not see the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness. He

preached that to attain that righteousness, it must be a life pursuit

and a first priority. It is attainable by His methods and procedures.

I heard an old preacher say, "It all begins in your mind. You first

have to get rid of that old stinkin thinkin". Paul tells us to take

captive every thought, and if that thought raises itself up against the

knowledge of Christ, we must reject it from our mind. The writer of

the Proverbs tells us that just as a man thinks in his heart and mind,

so he will be. God's righteousness starts in a person when he yields

and surrenders his own preferences to the God of righteousness.

Let us remember who is the God that is our righteousness.

God's name is Jehová Tsidkenu. He is the God that clothes

us with His righteousness. He is the God that puts His truth,

humility, and kindness in our spirit. He is the God gives us

the weapons of righteousness against the enemy. His Word is

the Sword of the Spirit to offensively conquer with truth. Our

Shield is our Faith in Christ as a defense against doubt and

temptation. Don't forget your Helmet of Salvation that will

protect your thoughts. Lift your hands to Him and Praise Him

today for the fact that He is the God that is our righteousness!