On Righteousness: Benefits Part 3 - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) June 3, 2022
Updated: Jun 28
Often times, we Christians only pull Jesus out on special occasions. Christmas, of course! The season even has His name in it so we've got to give Him some attention then, right? We learned in Sunday School that Jesus fed thousands, healed the sick and taught a lot. And yet, Easter Sunday became all about bunnies and eggs that many of us forgot that it actually signifies the day Jesus rose from the dead.
Outside of 'holidays' and a good Bible story, who is Jesus to you? What does He signify in your life?
I can tell you who Jesus is to me. He is the Son of God who left the splendor of heaven to live as a mere mortal. He did it knowing that people were doomed to hell because the devil had everyone sinning. People couldn't even fight it and were subject to the devil's full control. There was no other way for them to live righteously even with all they tried. It says so in 2 Corinthians 5:21 - God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Then Jesus came doing good, was attacked by naysayers and crucified on a cross like a criminal although He never even sinned. He died on that cross, was buried and then resurrected from the dead three days later. He went through traumatic treatment and a horrible death to set me and sinners like me free. Sinners who had no clue someone would ever think so much of them to give up His life for them. Because of His sacrifice, I now can have victory over satan. It doesn't get to keep me from heaven because Jesus created the pathway for me to get there. 1 Peter 3:18 - For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. Through Jesus, I received the Holy Spirit who helps me to grow in faith, in understanding the word of the Lord, and in living a life that strives to give God glory. The Lord, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit have become a real and tangible part of my existence.
Am I perfect? Not in the least. Each day, I learn a little something about how I need to improve and what I need to let go. Each day, I try to acknowledge the sacrifice Jesus made and thank Him for going through what He did to set me free. I can't imagine knowing the terror He'd go through and still signing up for it. Yet, He did it just for me.
And He did it just for you too because He loves you and wants you to receive the fruit of righteousness available according to Philippians 1:11. This is a righteousness that pleases God and opens you up to so many benefits and blessings. Righteousness and redemption that frees you from satan's clutches and cleanses you of all your sins. It doesn't matter how checkered or filthy your past is. Jesus specializes in just that. He takes those who've fallen very far and lifts them out of the pit. Nobody is too far gone for Him to save. He ensures that whatever you did before is no longer remembered by God. Jesus gives all who accept His gift a clean slate, so their earthly life gets them to God's kingdom for an eternal life.
Because eternity is truly what is at issue. Many people believe that there's no eternity, that death is the end. Others swear that they are reincarnated. These are fallacies pushed by the devil to make people think there's no reason to strive for godly righteousness. However, God says that there is life after death and there are only two options as to where one's final resting place will be. Heaven, with it's peace, or hell with its unending fire. You and I need righteousness to spend eternity in heaven and not hell.
So won't you consider the main source to God's righteousness - Jesus Christ - today?
Here's what we've learned about Righteousness thus far:
On Righteousness - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) May 24, 2022
On Righteousness: Benefits Part 1 - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) May 27, 2022
On Righteousness: Benefits Part 2 - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) May 31, 2022
On Righteousness: Benefits Part 3 - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) June 3, 2022
On Righteousness: Benefits Part 4 - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) June 7, 2022
On Righteousness: Benefits Part 5 - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) June 10, 2022
Sow Seeds of Righteousness - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) September 1, 2020
Be Still (Unfair Treatment): Affliction & Righteousness Pt 1 - Friday P & P (for others) November 11 2022
If you read today's post and you know it is time to commit your life to Jesus, then there's no better time than now. The Sinner's Prayer is sufficient if you know it but however you do it, simply speak words that affirm you accept the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross to save you from the clutches of satan.
Now, if you've given your life to Jesus in the past, congratulation. Feel free to recommit and/or pray for the newcomers seeking a deeper relationship with the Lord.
Let us pray...
Lord Jesus, as You gave Yourself totally to me, I now choose to give myself totally to You! I declare that I now belong to You! All that I…