Central Truth

We desire righteousness. We need righteousness.

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Reflections

One very common desire I have found within myself and within nearly everyone else I have met is the desire to be righteous, or at least to be perceived as being righteous. We desire righteousness in our actions, righteousness in our words, and righteousness even in that very deep dark and dangerous place where our most secret thoughts slink about. However, when we look honestly at ourselves, we realize that such a thing as being even remotely righteous, especially the righteousness that God requires, is far, far beyond all our greatest efforts to achieve.

It is noteworthy that Elihu sees that Job's righteousness was typical for any "son of man," or, every human born; it is a righteousness based on each person's own sense of what is right and what is wrong. Unfortunately, this just ends up being a self imposed righteousness that reflects the environment in which we have grown up; this contrasts greatly with what Jesus told his disciples. He told them that unless their righteousness superseded that of the Pharisees they would not measure up. This leaves all of us in a quandary. If what the Pharisees did to perfect and present a sense of righteousness was of no avail--what becomes of you and me? We end up exactly where God wants us to be--and that is the place where we look to something outside of ourselves. Admit it, looking inward never truly does a whole lot of good--we just end up staring bleakly at past failures, current failures, and the dirt we try to bury them with. We definitely do not feel any closer to being righteous.

BUT--Good News! God has not left us with nothing to fix our eyes on! The perfect Son of Man lived a perfect, righteous life, providing a way for each of us to share in that perfect, righteous life! It is here on this side of the cross and resurrection that we experience the miracle of substitution--all our unrighteousness for God's own infinite righteousness. We, the once wicked--are now God's righteousness!

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Discussion Questions

1. Are we being obedient to keep our eyes off of ourselves and fix them on Jesus?

2. Is there anything we can say or do to improve upon the righteousness that God through Christ has freely given to us?

3. When was the last time you just thanked the Lord Jesus because He has already forgiven and cleansed you from all of your sins: past, present, and future?

4. How does it feel knowing that your spirit is just as perfect as Christ's and that it cannot be improved upon?

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