Righteousness: The Pursuit

Deuteronomy 30:19 (NLT) Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses.  Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make.  

We can invite or hinder God’s blessing by how we choose to live our lives.

“When we do life God’s way, we get God’s results.”

We are encouraged to chase after…

-money

-power

-control

-influence

-popularity

-beauty

-materialistic things

-personal comfort and security

-what makes us happy

Psalm 23:3 (AMP) He refreshes and restores my soul (life); He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Proverbs 11:19 (NET) True righteousness leads to life, but the one who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.

Proverbs 15:9 (NIV) The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but He loves those who pursue righteousness.

Proverbs 21:21 (NLT) Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor. 

Matthew 6:33 (ESV) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

1 Timothy 6:11 (NLT) But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things.  Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

2 Timothy 2:22 (NLT) Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts.  Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace.  Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

God encourages us to not only pursue righteousness but also to live righteously.

We don’t run after righteousness…we run with and in righteousness.

John 14:15-17 (NLT) If you love Me, obey My commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.  The world cannot receive Him, because it isn’t looking for Him and doesn’t recognize Him.  But you know Him, because He lives with you and later will be in you.

“The pursuit of righteousness isn’t just about pursuing the way of Christ, rather, it is first and foremost about pursuing Christ Himself.”  

We become our pursuit.  “Whatever we pursue shapes our character and behavior.

Matthew 5:1-12 (NKJV) And seeing the multitude, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven…

This standard of righteousness reveals…

-what the Holy Spirit is leading and transforming us into

-what our lives will be measured and judged by

-if we are actively pursuing a righteous lifestyle

-if we are opening or shutting the door of blessing

Seven Expressions of Righteous Living

1.  Humility

James 4:1-7 (NLT) What is causing the quarrels and fights among you?  Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it.  You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them.  Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong — you want only what will give you pleasure. 4 You adulterers!  Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God?  I say it again:  If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. 5 Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning?  They say that God is passionate that the spirit He has placed within us should be faithful to Him. 6 And He gives grace generously.  As the Scriptures say, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ 7 So humble yourselves before God.

Humility — “to have a modest view of one’s value or importance.”

“Pride must die in you, or nothing of heaven can live in you.”  —Andrew Murray

2.  Repentance

1 John 1:9 (NKJV) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

Repentance produces righteousness. 

Matthew 7:3-5 (NLT) And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite!  First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.’ 

3.  Kindness

Micah 6:8 (AMP) He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you except to be just, and to love [and diligently practice] kindness (compassion), and to walk humbly with your God [setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness]? 

The Holy Spirit will lead us to…

-walk in kindness

-be friendly

-be patient

-be slow to speak and quick to listen

-treat others with dignity

-speak tactfully and with courtesy

-walk in love, honor, and unity 

4.  Mercy

Luke 6:36 (NIV) Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 

5.  Integrity

Proverbs 11:3 (ESV) The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. 

Integrity — “the quality of being undivided.” 

A person who has integrity…

-keeps their word

-doesn’t waver in their convictions

-has nothing to hide

-consistent in their behavior

-blameless

-clear conscience

-honest

-genuine and sincere

-willing to do what is right 

6.  Peace

Romans 14:19 (AMP) So then, let us pursue [with enthusiasm] the things which make for peace and the building up of one another [things which lead to spiritual growth].

7.  Endurance 

• Desire

• Decide

• Discipline

• Determination

Proverbs 24:16 (AMP) For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again…

Matthew 5:6 (NKJV) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.’

Matthew 6:33 (AMP) But first and more importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.