Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs
FOLLOW PASSIONATELY
We mostly receive one baby at a time, but sometimes two! I was blessed to have twins many years ago and I used to say: “There’s only one thing better than having a baby and that’s having two babies!” We also read about twins in the Bible; not only physical twins, but character twins. It’s fun to look out for them. You will have already noticed “faith and love,” “grace and truth,” and “prayer and thanksgiving.”
Another set of twins you will notice over and over again is “salvation and righteousness.” They are inseparable (Isaiah 46:13; 51:5, 6, 8; 56:1; Romans 1:16, 17; 10:10). When we are saved, we are saved to righteousness. The scepter of God’s kingdom is a scepter of righteousness (Hebrews 1:8, 9). He holds out His scepter of salvation and righteousness to us. When we accept, we enter into a kingdom of righteousness. When we accept Christ as our Savior, we also accept Him as our righteousness. If we don’t want righteousness, we don’t want salvation.
Matthew 5:6 says: “Blessed are they which do HUNGER AND THIRST after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
Matthew 6:33 says: “Seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God and his righteousness.”
I am challenged by Isaiah 51:1: “Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD.” The Hebrew word “follow” is “radaph" and means “to run after, chase, hunt, pursue.” It is not a complacent word. It’s an intensely active word. It’s not moderate action, but that which takes all our strength, sweat, and exertion.
We are to follow after righteousness ardently, avidly, devoutly, diligently, eagerly, earnestly, exceedingly, fervently, intensely, passionately, perseveringly, persistently, powerfully, relentlessly, steadfastly, strenuously, strongly, unfalteringly, untiringly, vehemently, vigilantly, vigorously, wholeheartedly, willingly, and zealously! It’s the same word used of soldiers chasing down their enemy until they are destroyed, even when they are tired. “Faint, yet pursuing” (Judges 8:4).
What is the standard for righteousness in our homes? Does our desire for righteousness influence our children? Does it make them want to pursue righteousness? They will not be turned on if all they see is religion and legalism. But when they see our hearts hot and passionate for God because we are in love with Christ who is our Righteousness, they will want to live in the joy of His kingdom too.
Yes, righteousness begets joy. Hebrews 1:9 tells us that because Jesus “loved righteousness, and hated iniquity, therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”
You cannot separate salvation and righteousness. Christ came to save us from sin and give us His righteousness. Seek to be a family who all PASSIONATELY FOLLOW after righteousness (Hebrews 12:14).
Be encouraged today,
Nancy Campbell
