righteous

A LESSON FROM JOSEPH

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Of the thousands of Jewish men to choose from, God chose Joseph to be the father (foster father) of the Messiah. Why? There are things about Joseph that characterize the kind of person that pleases God and therefore the kind of person God can use.

Matthew advises us that one of Joseph’s strengths was personal righteousness: “…Joseph her husband was a righteous man…” (Matthew 1:19)

Being a “righteous man” (“just” in KJV) refers not only to his relationship with God; it also speaks of his concern that he handle the “out of wedlock” pregnancy of Mary in the right way. Being a “righteous man” means Joseph was a good man, a fair, honest, upright man. He really wanted to do the right thing — and that pleases God! Joseph was deeply concerned about doing the right thing, and was eventually given the answer.

God doesn’t expect us to know what’s right in every situation we face. What pleases Him though is when we want to do right. I believe there are many of us who truly want to give the Lord our best; the cry of our heart is to be led in His glorious will day in and day out. If you are a “just” man or woman you will be led of God — it’s only a matter of time.

GOD’S GREATEST GIFT

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As a Catholic priest, the great reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546) was plagued with a sense of his own unrighteousness and inability to please God. It seemed the more he did the deeper he sank into depression and guilt.

Luther’s life was dramatically changed, however, as he meditated on Romans 1:17: “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: `The righteous will live by faith.’”

God quickened the meaning of that powerful Scripture to his understanding:

The righteousness needed to please God is a GIFT from Him, appropriated through faith in Jesus Christ the Righteous One.

Luther understood that no one can be made right in God’s sight through personal effort, no matter how noble his works might be. Our salvation is by God’s grace through faith in Christ alone.

Luther’s “revelation” is a reminder that every good thing we have is bestowed by our loving heavenly Father — everything. I wonder: Have you received His gift of life everlasting through faith in Jesus alone? Doing so is as simple as ABC!

A — ADMIT that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. To “admit” means to agree with. The Bible says “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) So, you must agree with God that you are a sinner.

B — BELIEVE that Jesus is the only Savior available. Of Himself, Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) So there is one Savior from sin: Jesus Christ — period!

C — CHOOSE to follow Christ. Place your faith in Him alone then, with God’s help, determine you will change your mind about how you plan to live the rest of your life: Jesus will now be in charge!