Some days I begin studying one subject in the word of God and end up on a totally different trail. Today was one of those times.
I began studying the parable of the ten virgins. As I went from scripture to scripture, I don’t even know how it happened, but I ended up studying the word righteous.
It was so interesting that I had to stop and dig a little deeper to find out if what I was reading could be confirmed.
I thought of the scripture that says we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. To me it is saying, we are made holy and acceptable through Christ. However, what I discovered was so much richer and deeper.
In one of my study books, Hebrew Word Pictures, by Frank T. Seekins, I found the deeper meaning I was searching for.
Here is what is says concerning the word righteous.
The Hebrew picture for righteous means to be hooked so that your life follows. The word picture for holy is what follows the threshing when all the chaff is removed. The chaff is beaten small so that it can be blown away by the wind or Spirit. Righteousness comes when we allow our life to be threshed, breaking the chaff from the grain and hunt down the smallest piece and throw it into the wind to be carried away. Righteousness is the solid, real, and good that is left after the chaff is gone.
In other words, righteous means we are hooked by Jesus. So much so that we can do nothing but follow Him and His word. Think of a fish on a hook, all he can do is follow where the line goes, there is no other option. We must follow God and His word until He removes everything that needs to be removed from us, every little thing. Once all the chaff is removed by the Spirit of God, all that is left is pure righteousness.
It is in that place that we experience James 5:1. The effective, fervent prayer of the righteous man makes great power available, dynamic in its working.
And Matthew 6:33; But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
The Bible says in 1 Peter 3:12, For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
It’s all about Jesus. It’s all Him. He is the one who hooks us and if we choose to remain on the hook, following Him and His word, we will walk in HIS righteousness.
1 John 2:1 says, Little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
Jesus Christ is THE righteous, as we follow Him, we become like Him.
If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him. 1 John 2:29
I don’t know about you, but it is a relief to me to discover that I don’t have to do everything perfectly. All I have to do is allow myself to be hooked by Jesus. Submit to the Spirit of God as He blows away the chaff. Then remain on the hook and continue to follow Jesus and His word. In that place, we, you and I, can walk daily in righteousness and all the benefits that come with it, and there are many. That, my friend, is good news.
