DRAWING NEAR
February 22
Cultivating the Fruit of Righteousness
"Having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes
through Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:11).
Bearing spiritual fruit is the acid test of a true believer.
After facing life-threatening situations, people often say, "I saw my
entire life flash before my eyes." That's the picture we get in
Philippians 1:11.
"The fruit of righteousness" refers to what is produced in you as you
operate in love, pursue excellence, and maintain your integrity. It
includes every attitude and action consistent with God's standard of
what is right.
"Having been filled" speaks of something that happened in the past
with continuing results. At your salvation the seed of righteousness
was planted within you. It bears righteous fruit throughout your
lifetime. On the day of Christ that fruit will confirm your
salvation.
Fruitfulness has always been the acid test of true salvation. Jesus
said, "If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine"
(John 8:31). When John the Baptist admonished his followers to "bring
forth fruits in keeping with repentance" (Luke 3:8), he was speaking
of good deeds (vv. 10-14). Paul said we are God's workmanship,
"created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10) John said that
all who profess Christ should live as He lived (cf. 1 John 2:6).
Bearing spiritual fruit is not something you can achieve on your own.
It "comes through Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:11). Jesus Himself said,
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of
itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you
abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in
Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do
nothing" (John 15:4-5).
You were redeemed to glorify God through righteous deeds. Make that
your priority today.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Psalm 71 is a psalm of praise to God for His righteousness and
faithful provisions. Read it and meditate on its truths. Then praise
God for His righteousness toward you. Ask for opportunities to
demonstrate righteousness to others today.
For Further Study:
Read Proverbs 11:1-9, 15:8-9, and 21:2-3, noting the characteristics
and benefits of righteousness.
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
John 8:31 (NKJV)
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My
word, you are My disciples indeed.
Luke 3:8-14
8 "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to
say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you
that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
9 "And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore
every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into
the fire."
10 So the people asked him, saying, "What shall we do then?"
11 He answered and said to them, "He who has two tunics, let him
give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise."
12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him,
"Teacher, what shall we do?"
13 And he said to them, "Collect no more than what is appointed for
you."
14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, "And what shall we do?"
So he said to them, "Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and
be content with your wages."
1 John 2:6
He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He
walked.
Psalm 71
1 In You, O LORD, I put my trust; Let me never be put to shame.
2 Deliver me in Your righteousness, and cause me to escape; Incline
Your ear to me, and save me.
3 Be my strong refuge, To which I may resort continually; You have
given the commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my
fortress.
4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, Out of the
hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
5 For You are my hope, O Lord GOD; You are my trust from my youth.
6 By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out
of my mother's womb. My praise shall be continually of You.
7 I have become as a wonder to many, But You are my strong refuge.
8 Let my mouth be filled with Your praise And with Your glory all
the day.
9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when
my strength fails.
10 For my enemies speak against me; And those who lie in wait for my
life take counsel together,
11 Saying, "God has forsaken him; Pursue and take him, for there is
none to deliver him."
12 O God, do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me!
13 Let them be confounded and consumed Who are adversaries of my
life; Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor Who seek my
hurt.
14 But I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and
more.
15 My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness And Your salvation all
the day, For I do not know their limits.
16 I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of
Your righteousness, of Yours only.
17 O God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this day I
declare Your wondrous works.
18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me,
Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to
everyone who is to come.
19 Also Your righteousness, O God, is very high, You who have done
great things; O God, who is like You?
20 You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, Shall revive me
again, And bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
21 You shall increase my greatness, And comfort me on every side.
22 Also with the lute I will praise you; And Your faithfulness, O my
God! To You I will sing with the harp, O Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You, And my soul,
which You have redeemed.
24 My tongue also shall talk of Your righteousness all the day long;
For they are confounded, For they are brought to shame Who seek my
hurt.
Proverbs 11:1-9
1 Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, But a just weight
is His delight.
2 When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity
of the unfaithful will destroy them.
4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness
delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, But
the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the
unfaithful will be caught by their lust.
7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope
of the unjust perishes.
8 The righteous is delivered from trouble, And it comes to the
wicked instead.
9 The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, But through
knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
Proverbs 15:8-9
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But the
prayer of the upright is His delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But He loves
him who follows righteousness.
Proverbs 21:2-3
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs
the hearts.
3 To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the LORD
than sacrifice.
~~~
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:
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and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
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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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