6 January 2014 “Totally Logical”
Proverbs 21:21
Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor.
That’s logical. Pursuing righteousness leads to finding it.
It is by believing in Jesus that we are made righteous, not by any feat we accomplish, task we complete, or sacrifice we make. (Romans 3:22)
So pursing Jesus is pursuing righteousness. Pursuing Jesus looks like this:
Know what he’s like by carefully reading the New Testament especially the books of the Gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). We learn about Jesus’ behavior and his personality this way. The reason we are Christians in the first place is that we are “Little Christs,” imitators of HIM. Pursuing Him is imitating Him.
Philippians 2:5-8
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Imitating Jesus:
Galatians 6:7-9 is very encouraging in this area:
You will always harvest what you plant. (Also logical!) Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. (That is not pursuing righteousness by imitating Christ.) But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. (Imitating Christ!) So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. (OK! I’m in! Help me, Lord!) At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. (Jesus didn’t give up, and his life is what I’m pursuing!)
Dear God,
Thank you that righteousness doesn’t depend upon what I can do but what Jesus can do and did!!! Thank you for your system that just requires obedience and imitation and not giving up. These are things I can do through the help of your Holy Spirit. I know that coming up with a way to make myself righteous is not possible at all. Your plan really is designed to take all the pressure off of me and just reap the rewards of having a relationship with your Son. Thank you so much. I love it that you are like this and want me to have access to all things YOU! I praise you and thank you in Jesus’ name, amen.
Proverbs 21:21
Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor.
That’s logical. Pursuing righteousness leads to finding it.
It is by believing in Jesus that we are made righteous, not by any feat we accomplish, task we complete, or sacrifice we make. (Romans 3:22)
So pursing Jesus is pursuing righteousness. Pursuing Jesus looks like this:
Know what he’s like by carefully reading the New Testament especially the books of the Gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). We learn about Jesus’ behavior and his personality this way. The reason we are Christians in the first place is that we are “Little Christs,” imitators of HIM. Pursuing Him is imitating Him.
Philippians 2:5-8
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Imitating Jesus:
- I must be humble.
- I must not insist on my entitlements and expectations.
- I must serve others.
- I must obey God in all situations even to the point of my own discomfort.
Galatians 6:7-9 is very encouraging in this area:
You will always harvest what you plant. (Also logical!) Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. (That is not pursuing righteousness by imitating Christ.) But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. (Imitating Christ!) So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. (OK! I’m in! Help me, Lord!) At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. (Jesus didn’t give up, and his life is what I’m pursuing!)
Dear God,
Thank you that righteousness doesn’t depend upon what I can do but what Jesus can do and did!!! Thank you for your system that just requires obedience and imitation and not giving up. These are things I can do through the help of your Holy Spirit. I know that coming up with a way to make myself righteous is not possible at all. Your plan really is designed to take all the pressure off of me and just reap the rewards of having a relationship with your Son. Thank you so much. I love it that you are like this and want me to have access to all things YOU! I praise you and thank you in Jesus’ name, amen.
RSS Feed