Tag Archives: Righteousness

The Lord is our Righteousness

Living in the Spirit
November 26, 2018

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 33:14-16

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfil the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

When we hear the word “righteousness” what comes to mind? I am sorry to say that I picture what is actually “self-righteous” in a negative connotation. I wonder from where in my past that was implanted in my thinking. The word “justice” now comes to mind but that arrived in my adulthood. Doing what is right was established as a goal in my family during my childhood. Telling lies was forbidden thus the wrong thing to do and treating other people with respect was required one of the right things to do. I was raised with a well-defined conscience long before the phrase “What would Jesus do?” became popular. I guess I never put doing what was right together with the word righteous. I do now.

I think many of the problems with which we deal today result from our confusing what is right in the eyes of God and thus our standard for righteousness, with our self-defined righteousness.  Self-righteousness always creates a hierarchy of difference between peoples resulting in absolute injustice, the very opposite of righteousness. People of faith get caught in this web at times. We did it with the crusades, the doctrine of discovery, manifest destiny. Self-righteousness generally results in the definer establishing themselves as the judge of those not meeting their designated definition of what is righteous.

If indeed the Lord is our righteousness, we would do well to discern how God defines it. For Christ-followers’ understanding, his way of love is a great place to start understanding God’s righteousness.

Prayer: Lord, create in us clean hearts so that when we take in your way of doing what is right we have a place for it to reside. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Them Bones

Living in the Spirit
October 25, 2018

Scripture Reading: Psalm 34:19-22
Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
   but the Lord rescues them from them all.
He keeps all their bones;
   not one of them will be broken.
Evil brings death to the wicked,
   and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
   none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

I noticed the clouds as I backed out of my driveway onto the street and discovered the sunglasses I wore by habit were unnecessary. Having just heard the morning weather, I remember it saying the rain was not arriving here until tomorrow. My bones afflicted with osteoarthritis are a good meteorologist as they send out their forecasts at the first arrival of weather changes. Indeed, they started talking to me already this morning. I picked up the two ladies, both older than me, I was transporting to the meeting where we were headed. One of them commented on how her knees were not bending well as she slipped into the back seat of my small car. Her bones are good meteorologist too.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous. Some like osteoarthritis are at least a nuisance at worst crippling. Fractured families that seem past healing cause immense distress. Poverty and its symptoms of hunger and hopelessness, inappropriate dress for the weather, lack of transportation cycle without end. Violence and oppression and the fear that is their driver increases all around.  At times it is hard to remember that The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. Remember it, we must for the love of God is our source of hope and healing our way to shalom. The Psalmist reminds us of the magnitude of God’s love in our lives, in the small things and in the great as we continue to strive toward righteousness in the strength of that love.

Prayer: Lord, it is comforting that you even care about our bones. Thank you for your unconditional love. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Blameless and Upright

Living in the Spirit
October 1, 2018

Scripture Reading: Job 1:1, 2:1-10

There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.

One day the heavenly beings came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. The Lord said to Satan, ‘Where have you come from?’ Satan answered the Lord, ‘From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.’ The Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil. He still persists in his integrity, although you incited me against him, to destroy him for no reason.’ Then Satan answered the Lord, ‘Skin for skin! All that people have they will give to save their lives. But stretch out your hand now and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.’ The Lord said to Satan, ‘Very well, he is in your power; only spare his life.’ –Job 1:1, 2:1-6

Satan, the name of the superhuman adversary of God*, is a leading character in the book of Job. Satan smugly claims that all humans have their price and even though Job has been blameless and upright so far, he surely has his limits. God allows Satan to put Job to the test. The scene is set, and the action begins.

From the beginning, humans have had the right to choose between good and evil. We have most likely always wondered if bad things happening to us are the results of bad things we have done. It is an age old question if God is love and God is thus good why do bad things happen to good people? In some instances, we know we are suffering very real consequences from our own actions. What of the Jobs of the world who are blameless and upright, why do bad things happen to them?

We readily quote Jesus as saying it rains on the just and the unjust but that does not help much. We need to look a little closer at the context. Here is the full scripture:

‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:44-45)

All people are God’s children and he loves them equally. He is instructing that all people are our neighbors and we are to love them as he does. I think he may also be saying that we need to work as one to prevent bad things from happening to anyone if it is at all possible.  I doubt the poor in Puerta Rico or the Carolina’s purposely live in homes more likely to be destroyed by hurricanes.

Prayer: Lord, make us good neighbors to all your children. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7854.htm

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Wisdom in Loving

Living in the Spirit
September 10, 2018

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 1:20-33

Wisdom cries out in the street;
   in the squares she raises her voice.
At the busiest corner she cries out;
   at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
‘How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
   and fools hate knowledge?
Give heed to my reproof;
I will pour out my thoughts to you;
   I will make my words known to you.
Because I have called and you refused,
   have stretched out my hand and no one heeded,
 and because you have ignored all my counsel
   and would have none of my reproof,
I also will laugh at your calamity;
   I will mock when panic strikes you,
when panic strikes you like a storm,
   and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
   when distress and anguish come upon you. –Proverbs 1:20-27

Truth is staring us in the face and we choose not to see it. Living in denial has become a way of life for many. We pay a high price for our greed, our lust for privilege, our search for shortcuts to a better world. We chase after anyone that seems even slightly capable of making the truth less real and thus less painful.  In our hearts, we know what is necessary to create a world where all have enough, feel safe and secure, loved and respected, where everyone can maximize his or her potential and live in the wholeness and oneness God desires for us.

I was told as a child that it takes fewer muscles to smile than to frown. I do not know if that is a fact, but I do know that it is a truth. We often work harder at avoiding justice and righteousness than we would ever work toward loving one another. The problem is that loving one another requires us to let go of all our ingrained habits of needing to be better than someone to be a person of worth and of assuming the righteousness I seek may or may not be right for me or anyone else. Loving our neighbor as ourselves requires us to invest some time in understanding our neighbor and wondering what is the best for them and not assuming that what is best for me is best for all others.

Prayer: Righteous God, forgive us for our shortsightedness, take the blinders from our eyes and help us see the world through your vision. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Governance

Living in the Spirit
August 13, 2018

Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 2:10-12, 3:3-14

Then David slept with his ancestors, and was buried in the city of David. The time that David reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned for seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David; and his kingdom was firmly established.

 Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David; only, he sacrificed and offered incense at the high places. The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt-offerings on that altar. –1 Kings 2:10-12, 3:3—4

Passing the torch of leadership in good times is probably the desire of all leaders. David had lived through turmoil, lead battles even against his older son, and buried his best friend killed as he fought next to his father King Saul. David, too, loved the Lord and taught his son Solomon to do the same. He must have grown into the role of father. It is better to grow into wisdom than away from it.

We have little experience dealing with monarchies with hereditary structures of rule. Even those countries that still have monarchies usually have some type of shared rule. Rule by one person today is usually classified as a dictatorship. In the USA we operate within a form of representative government with three branches having a checks-and-balance system over each other. Whether we like it or not, we are responsible for the leadership of our country, if we choose to fulfill our roles as citizen and fully engage in the process of electing those leaders or if we do not.

While we may long for the wisdom of Solomon and the patience of Job while we discern how we vote, I think the more important key is determining whose message is right and just within the framework of the love of God as manifested in Jesus Christ. It is all too easy in our world today to lose sight of the Common Good and only deal with what is in it for me. Campaigns are often targeted at our most self-centered vulnerable inclinations. Digging deeper into candidates’ accomplishments and demonstrated positions on issues is necessary to make those wise decisions for which we long.

Prayer: Grant us the insight we need to make the right decisions during this election cycle. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

On Not Following the Crowd

Living in the Spirit
July 15, 2018

Scripture Reading: Mark 6:14-29

And Herodias had a grudge against [John the Baptist], and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.’ And he solemnly swore to her, ‘Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.’ She went out and said to her mother, ‘What should I ask for?’ She replied, ‘The head of John the baptizer.’ Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, ‘I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.’ The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. –Mark 6:19-26

How important is our keeping an oath we have made? How much does what we do depend on the opinion of others? How much does our keeping an oath make, if no one else knows we made it? Who are we really? And are we more concerned about what others think than how God assesses our actions?

According to the scripture above Herod knew that John was a righteous and holy man, not guilty of anything deserving jail time much less execution.  Herod jailed John for criticizing Herod for marrying his brother’s wife and executed John because Herod’s wife used his daughter to extract that punishment out of a boisterous promise made before a crowd of witnesses.

None of us want to embarrass ourselves or our families by making a public spectacle of ourselves, but we are all called to do justice in all aspects of our lives. Sometimes doing what is righteous requires us to step outside our comfort zones and perhaps face doing what might seem to others as being foolish in the process. In many instances, it is easier to go along to get along rather than breach wrong-natured cultural norms. Standing up to a bully in the schoolyard in defense of someone one may not even know is an example. Adult bullies are even more challenging. Racism, misogyny, and other disrespect toward people for whatever reason can and have resulted in the injury or deaths of innocent people.

As followers of Christ, we must project our love of others, wanting the best for others, openly and with intentionality if justice is to prevail.

Prayer: Lord, give us the courage to do what is right and what is just in a loving and Christlike manner. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

The Wisdom of Experience

Living in the Spirit
July 2, 2018

Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, ‘Look, we are your bone and flesh. For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The Lord said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel.’ So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for forty years. At Hebron he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months; and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years…. David occupied the stronghold, and named it the city of David. David built the city all around from the Millo inwards. And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.

CBS Morning News has a segment, Notes to Self* where successful adults write a message to their younger selves giving them the advice that experience provides. As I read the story of David’s ascension as King of Israel, I flashed forward to 2 Kings 23 where David’s parting words to Israel are recorded and are like the Notes to Self which in many instances are wise advice for the rest of us. Such as verses 3 and 4:

3 The God of Israel has spoken,
   the Rock of Israel has said to me:
One who rules over people justly,
   ruling in the fear of God,
4 is like the light of morning,
   like the sun rising on a cloudless morning,
   gleaming from the rain on the grassy land.

While David did a few knuckleheaded things for which he paid dearly, overall, he cared about being righteous in the sight of God and worked at maintaining the relationship. Justice in politics is born out of righteousness in our personal lives.  I like Amos’ example of righteousness as being like a plumb line used to assure that building bricks are laid straight. Today we might think about righteousness as being in sync with God.

Remaining in sync with God requires an intentionally of effort to build our relationship with God through the practice of spiritual disciplines and being open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We must make ourselves vulnerable letting go of preconceived notions and trusting that we will not be led astray. It is hard work that we must accomplish in a chaotic world where we can easily fall into the trap of creating and following a god in an image the world wants rather than the God of love that God is. The test of righteousness and ultimately of justice is: if something is not built on the foundation of love (benevolence, good will, esteem*) it is not of God.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me when I move away from your ways. Trust is a rare trait in our world today. Undergird us with your love so that our trust relationship with you spreads among all people until love rules the world. Amen.

*Some of the notes have been compiled and published in book form by the same title by Gayle King.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Discerning Righteousness

Lent
March 19, 2018

 Scripture Reading: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
   his steadfast love endures forever! 

Let Israel say,
   ‘His steadfast love endures forever.’ 

Open to me the gates of righteousness,
   that I may enter through them
   and give thanks to the Lord. 

This is the gate of the Lord;
   the righteous shall enter through it. —Psalm 118:1-2, 19-20

Our world seems to have given up on determining what is right. What is the standard that we use to determine rightness? In these weeks leading up to Palm Sunday and Easter, the debate on the death penalty reignited. The Prosecutor in the case against the young man who is accused of the Parkland School shooting has announced that he intends to seek the death penalty in that case. Oklahoma has been under a moratorium on the death penalty for three years because the authorized drug is no longer readily available. The State Attorney General and the head of the Corrections Department announced recently that they were going to pursue the use of nitrogen. Pending federal approval of that plan, the moratorium will be lifted.

The most often mentioned reason for using the death penalty is giving victims’ families and friends closure, although I heard one of the young survivors of the Parkland shooting say she did not want him to get the death penalty as it was too easy. She wanted him to have to think about what he had done for a long time.

What is right and how do we discern it?  As followers of Christ, we identify him as the model of our righteousness. He talked about love and lived love, modeled forgiveness, practiced restoration. The death penalty is just one of many public issues with which we must grapple as we attempt to live as Christ’s followers among a diversity of viewpoints.

One of the things we often forget is that determining what is right is not as linear as we might think. While our civil courts must deal with crimes and punishments, we must establish the rightness of our responses. Do we bury our heads in the sand and leave it up to the civil authorities? How do we love the murderer of children? What is our role in forgiving? What is our role in the restoration of not only the criminal but also of their victims?

Prayer: Lord, lead us in righteousness that we might better discern our actions. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

The Order of Melchizedek

Lent
March 15, 2018

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 5:5-10

So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him,
‘You are my Son,
   today I have begotten you’;
as he says also in another place,
‘You are a priest forever,
   according to the order of Melchizedek.’
–Hebrews 5:5-7

The mysterious Melchizedek of unknown parentage and place is described as King of Righteousness and Peace, High Priest, forerunner of David, and in the order of Jesus. He first appears standing in support of Abraham. In Hebrews, he is identified with Christ.

My morning ritual usually involves watching national news programs while eating breakfast after which I work on these daily devotionals. At times over the years, the juxtaposition of the news and these devotionals have proved to be prophetic. I seem to notice that more and more recently. Today with reports of what I perceived to be out of control government chaos, reading about God’s eternal advocates was most helpful. In God’s care when evil makes a run, we can take comfort in God’s all-powerful presence countering evil.

Such trust does not mean we are to sit back and hope for a superhero to swoop in and save our day. It does mean that as we advocate for righteousness, justice, and peace, God has our backs.

Prayer: Holy One, thank you for your constant presence. Help us to be good advocates for bringing about your righteousness in this world. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Reckoned As Righteousness

Lent
February 25, 2018

Scripture Reading: Romans 4:13-25

Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become ‘the father of many nations’, according to what was said, ‘So numerous shall your descendants be.’ He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Therefore his faith ‘was reckoned to him as righteousness.’ Now the words, ‘it was reckoned to him’, were written not for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification. –Romans 4:18-25

I am always surprised when I read the words reckoned to him as righteousness. The word “reckon” in my experience is a slang word meaning agreeing to something. “I reckon so.” Apparently, it is an accounting term itemizing credits to someone. The NIV uses the word credited.

The Bible is full of stories of people who communed with God routinely and trusted that God would keep God’s commitments. A two-way relationship existed. God expected God’s followers to keep their commitments. Abraham’s story is one where Abraham was committed to God even with some imperfections. There are, of course, stories of those who did not keep commitments. The whole tribes of Israel eventually failed and were taken into captivity.

Our scripture today speaks of Abraham being fully convinced that God was able to do what God had promised. I certainly agree with that, but I may not have the faith of Abraham who, taking God at his word, pioneered new lands and met new people as he fulfilled his response to God’s covenant with him. If we are fully convinced that God can do what God promises are we living that faith to its fullest? I have read several opinions recently that taking God out of the schools is the reason for the school shootings.  I cannot help but wonder if that is not reactionary on the part of the church knowing that we are not succeeding in spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. Since I believe that God is omnipresent, it is impossible to take God out of school. God is in the image of every student and staff and the hearts of every one of God’s followers. The question we followers of God must consider are we being conduits of the love of God to all God’s children? God’s love is not judgment or condemnation, God’s love is not forcing others to understand and worship God as we do. God’s love is accepting people where they are and enabling them in any way possible to become the person God created them to be as we make that same journey. Our covenant with God through Jesus Christ is that commitment to love, and the same God of Abraham enables us every step of the way as we seek to do God’s will. God reckons our love as righteousness.

Prayer: Almighty God, we live in very trying times. Our world is fragmented and fearful. Please take us as we are and guide us to being who you envisioned us to be fully engaged in loving you and loving like Jesus. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.