Pathways Press.com

MEDITATION:

Written by Lori Austin, a contemporary Christian author.

The answer to that question, who is righteous like God, is an easy one. No one. The fact that God is righteous means that He will always do what is morally right. He has not only created a law to rule the universe, but He is also able to perfectly follow it. Righteousness can be understood as living up to the standard set by God’s own person and nature.  God’s law contained in the Bible is an expression of His righteousness. None of us can live up to God’s standard of righteousness. Even Abraham, who is often considered the father of our faith, fell short. We know that Abraham lied on more than one occasion and did not always follow God perfectly. Yet in several places, the Bible says that Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. We cannot hope to be morally perfect enough to earn righteousness, but if we believe God, He credits us with righteousness. J.A. Ziesler says, “Imputing the righteousness of Christ to the believer is not an actual infusing of holiness into the individual. It is a matter of declaring the person righteous, as a judge does in acquitting the accused.”  In this, God still maintains His perfect righteousness. The same word translated “righteous” is sometimes translated “justice,” showing that these two concepts are intertwined. God does not negate his justice by giving us a free pass on breaking His standards. Instead, He pays the price for us, therefore adhering to His law but still showing us mercy by paying the price for our sin. As Romans 4:5 states, “And to the one who does not work but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.”

PRAYER:

From the Roman Breviary, the book of Latin liturgical rites of the Catholic Church. Published in 1482, it became known as the Liturgy of the Hours.

O Lord God,

King of heaven and earth,

order and hallow,

rule and govern,

our hearts and our bodies,

our thoughts,

our works,

and our words,

according to your commandments,

that with your help,

we may be delivered and saved,

now and forever;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen