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October 11, 1998, Sunday
Do you believe there is truly a righteous person? What does
it take to be a righteous person? What makes a person be a
righteous person?
The questions have been asked for thousands of years. Job
in his trouble asked the same question: "What is man, that
he could be pure? And he who is born of a woman, that he
could be righteous (Job 15:14)? The Psalmist stated that
he wanted God's mercy and not His judgment, because he
knew he was not a perfect person: "Do not enter into
judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no one
living is righteous" (Psa 143:2).
Job continued to understand that even though no one is a
righteous person, it is a requirement of God. His inquiry
was this: "Truly I know it is so, But how can a man be
righteous before God (Job 9:2)? Jesus said: "Seek first
the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Mat 6:33).
It has to be a life pursuit and goal.
To perfect us and make us in His image, He will test the
righteous person. The Psalmist tells us: "The Lord tests
the righteous, For the Lord is righteous, He loves
righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright"
(Psa 11:5a,7). But God is faithful to help that person
seeking His righteousness and will help them: "The righteous
cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all
their troubles, Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all" (Psa 34:17,19).
Let us remember who is the God that is our righteousness.
God's name is Jehová Tsidkenu. He is the God that expects
us to pursue His righteousness. He is the God that will
test our righteousness and faith. The Psalmist expressed
his joy and gratitude for His righteousness: "I will praise
You as long as I live, and in Your Name I will lift up my
hands" (Psa 63:4). Lift your hands to Him and Praise Him
for the fact that He is the God that is Our Righteousness!
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