DRAWING NEAR
September 16
A Righteousness that Glorifies God
"Stand firm therefore . . . having put on the breastplate of
righteousness" (Eph. 6:14).
A righteous life testifies to God's transforming power and brings Him
glory.
We've seen the importance of donning the breastplate of
righteousness, but Scripture also discusses the consequences of
failing to do so. These consequences serve as warnings to anyone who
is prone to neglect righteousness.
If you're not committed to righteousness, you not only make yourself
spiritually vulnerable, but also forfeit some of God's wonderful
blessings. David prayed, "Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation"
(Ps. 51:13). His sin had robbed him of his joy and assurance. That's
true of us as well because joy is directly proportional to obedience.
If you're pursuing greater righteousness, you'll know greater joy.
You might also forfeit some of your heavenly reward. John said,
"Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what we have accomplished,
but that you may receive a full reward" (2 John 8). I believe that
New Testament rewards are various capacities for service in heaven.
The greater your reward, the greater your capacity to serve God.
Somehow your current righteousness and faithfulness to God affect
what you will do for all eternity. Don't allow sin and negligence to
diminish your reward!
Without righteousness you will also suffer loss of opportunity to
glorify God. When thinking or behaving unrighteously, you violate
your reason for existence, which is to glorify God in everything (1
Cor. 10:31). Instead of exalting Him, you bring reproach on His name.
Instead of causing others to see your good works and glorify your
Father in heaven (Matt. 5:16), you breed confusion and mockery.
Peter says to us, "Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to
abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul. Keep
your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that . . . they may on
account of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the
day of visitation" (1 Pet. 2:11). When unbelievers scrutinize your
life, what do they see? Does your righteousness testify of God's
saving and sanctifying grace?
Suggestions for Prayer:
Ask God to give you an increased hunger and thirst for righteousness
as you seek to live to His glory today.
For Further Study:
Memorize 2 Corinthians 5:21 as a reminder of God's marvelous grace to
you.
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
1 Corinthians 10:31
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all
to the glory of God.
Matthew 5:16
16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works and glorify your Father in heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might
become the righteousness of God in Him.
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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