par·a·dox
a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true.
Oxford Dictionary
If there is anything worthy of daily, intentional pursuit I believe it to be righteousness. The paradox of righteousness is that we have already been made righteous and justified through our Lord Jesus Christ yet it is an attribute we must seek daily. To be righteous in my thoughts, words and actions is my current struggle. The love and salvation of Jesus swung my life in such a direction that all my own methods and reasonings have been nulled and voided. I can’t speak the same and I definitely can’t do life in the same manner.
To me, pursuing righteousness is putting forth the effort to live in a manner pleasing to God. I catch my attitudes and purposely be nice when I may not feel like it. I try to remember that He loves those who annoy me and was slighted way before and in a harsher manner than I. I had to come to think of my obedience as pursuing righteousness because my ultimate goal is to please Him and be in constant fellowship with His Holy Spirit. Although Christ is the fulfillment of the law and we are under grace I find it imperative to put forth the effort to keep all his commands. God is not sin and if we are being made into the image of His Son, then we are not sin either. We could never be anything other than sinful people without the Holy Spirit indwelling so we have to trust that He is changing our hearts and our appetites. The Lord has given us a heart of flesh instead of the heart of stone the world has. He will show us how to feel. Below are 5 key phrases and verses that I am using to keep my mind renewed and purposed toward becoming what I already am in Christ Jesus.
- To commit sin is to go against God’s design for our lives, therefore righteousness is the only living standard that is acceptable for us to stand before the Father. The wages of sin is death, but in the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death. (Proverbs 12:28) Source
- To pursue righteousness means to turn away from your natural, sinful desires, and turn to Christ and His perfect and righteous ways. Through obedience to this command, God is preparing us for eternal life with Him—aligning us with our righteousness through Christ. Source
- “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
- “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:5-7)
- “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9-11)
The Lord comes to the help of those who gladly do right, and who remember His ways (Isaiah 64:5). Therefore let us use the unfailing grace and unlimited mercy given freely by our Abba Father to cover the gap after we have taken the first step towards His Glory.
Xo,