The 5 Things to Seek: Part 3

The 5 Things to Seek: Part 3
Brad Reiches
May 29 2006 10:46PM

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Tuesday, May 30,  2006

GodThoughts Wired! 

"The 5 Things to Seek"

III

 #3.  Seek God's righteousness.  "Seek...His (God) righteousness" Matthew 6:33). 

As I instruct my daughters, in the simplest sense, to live righteously is to "live the right way."  God's way, according to the Bible.   "Seek righteousness" (Zephaniah 2:3). 

"Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness" (Isaiah 51:1).  Some basic and practical reasons for living the right way include,  the strong support of the Lord (see 2 Chronicles 16:9), and "no good thing does God withhold" (see Psalm 84:11) from those who live the right way, and, of course, "the fruit of righteousness" (Philippians 1:11).

"Pursue righteousness"

1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:22

The essence of the lifestyle of the disciple is the quest for righteousness.  Trying to figure out how to live the right way.  Technically, it's called "walking by the Spirit" (see Galatians 5:16-17).  Why?  Because, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20). 

Do you see it?  "Christ lives in me."  It's not us trying harder to be more righteous, it's allowing the Righteous God, ("Jehovah Tsidkenu," the Lord our Righteousness; see Jeremiah 23:6) who lives inside of every believer via His Holy Spirit (see Ephesians 1:13), to live through us.

It's why, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). 

Actually, it's a pretty good deal.  He lives through us, and we reap the "fruit of righteousness."