Hosanna Restoration Church

Righteousness is not a dirty word, nor is it wrong to be or act in a righteous manner. I thought it was important to make that clear, since it seems that some in this day and age think otherwise. Not that it is really anything new, for it is a fact that there have always been those who prefer to simply go their own way and it bothers them if someone else acts in way that reveals their darkness. In fact, most of us have been there and done that. I believe we are in one of those times when things need to make a sudden turn toward the light. It is time for people to stand for righteousness.

To be righteous, according to Webster, is simply to act rightly: upright; according to what is right or arising from an outraged sense of justice or morality. That sounds like a good thing to do to me. Having read the Bible, I am sure that you are well aware of the references to those times when everyone just did their own thing and paid no attention to God, even going so far as to kill the prophets for suggesting they follow God’s way.

Right now our nation is in a battle over health care. This in itself is getting stranger and stranger. In the midst of this, those who are taking a stand for righteousness are asking that there at least be a line drawn so that no tax dollars go for abortion. Well to some, this is of course outrageous. Why would it be outrageous for people to want to protect innocent lives? Quite simply, I believe it is because righteousness has been far removed from people’s minds. People have been deceived into believing that morals and character are something of their own personal choosing and that no one has any right to say differently.

This is of course, unless you happen to want to stand for righteousness. For some reason they just do not want anyone who desires to walk in the light to have any say about anything. In fact many would be perfectly happy if everyone who chooses righteousness would just disappear. That day will come, but for now we need to keep standing.

The Bible is full of references concerning the blessings of standing for righteousness and the curses that arise from doing otherwise. John points out in the referenced scripture that those who practice righteousness are righteous just as He (The Lord) is righteous. The benefits of this are impossible to imagine, let alone, measure.

Therefore, if our intention is to move into all that is promised to us in the Kingdom of God, we must start with standing rightly; and yes, at times with an outraged sense of morality. We must be determined to do what is right and the standard for rightness is found in God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

As we end this, let us be cautious to avoid any sense of self righteousness and to stand in the righteousness of God that is in Christ Jesus. With this determination as our foundation, we are prepared to stand and stand some more and expect the glory of God.