*Above Only Devotional*
Saturday, April 04
*Our Responsibilities as the Righteous*
_Prov. 15:28 (NIV), Prov. 12:5 (NKJV), Prov. 12:26 (NIV), Heb. 10:38-39_
_The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. *The thoughts of the righteous are right, But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. *The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. *Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul._
_The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. *The thoughts of the righteous are right, But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. *The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. *Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul._
As believers in Christ Jesus, it is not our works that make us righteous, but the nature of God that we have received. However, it is expedient that this new nature of God that we have now received find expression and manifest the life, fruit and light of God in our lives. Our very first responsibility as the righteous is to reflect Christ. In Acts 3, Peter described Jesus as 'the Just' and in 1John 2:1, John describes Jesus as 'the Righteous.‘ As He is, so are we in this world, 1John 4:17. We are in Him now and as such, we must walk or live our entire lives just like Him. 1 John 2:6. Allow Jesus to live His life through you. Grow in your consciousness that you are one with Him and that you have His life and fullness in you. Yield to the thoughts and leading of the spirit of God in you. For God is at work in you, making you willing and able to do of His good pleasure, Phil. 2:13. Desire that the life of Christ grows and manifests through you.
Another responsibility we have as the righteous is to be a light and example to all who are around us. God has set us up like a city set on a hill. The way that we think, talk and behave must be different from that of the world. Just like Jesus, we must love righteousness and hate iniquity, Heb.1:9. In the King James Version, Proverbs 12:26 says, “The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them. Proverbs 29:2 adds, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beoreth rule, the people mourn." We must be people of integrity. The word of God reminds us that “the just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him, Prov. 20:7. One other responsibility is to live by faith, Rom. 1:17. Continually keep your eyes on Christ and the wonderful things He has accomplished for you.
Prayer Focus: Thank God for making you righteous and thank Him for the life of Christ in you that causes you to manifest the life, fruit and light of God.
Bible in one year reading plan: 1 Samuel 1-3, Luke 8:26-56
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