Right+Wise
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Ephesians 5:1-2
1. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Hebrews 12:28-29
28. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe; 29. for our God is a consuming fire.
Romans 5:12-17
12. Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned -- 13. sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. 15. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16. And the free gift is not like the effect of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. 17. If, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
A lot of “therefore’s” this morning! Of course, the therefore’s mean “because of Christ’s sacrifice!” God sent his son to earth, therefore, he became like one of us. Christ died on the cross, therefore our sins were and continue to be forgiven. Because of the cross, we have the gift of grace, freely offered, therefore we live a life filled with and demonstrated by our gratitude, obedience, servanthood, reverence, awe, and love.
Each of these scripture could really end with the “therefore” statement. In my bible margin I have “righteousness” written next to the Ephesians passage. I don’t remember writing it, but I looked up righteous in the dictionary this morning. Webster’s defines it as: [Old English: see right + wise] acting in a just, upright manner; doing what is right; fair and just. So how do all the therefore’s, Jesus, and righteousness tie in? I guess that together, for me, they are the foundation for why I have chosen a particular way to live. Once we are saved, by God’s grace, through our faith in Jesus Christ, righteousness is really the only option.
Roman 5:15 states “But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. “ In light of this free gift, how can we decide to live in any other way than by doing what is right, and praying for discernment on what is wise. Is it wise to openly defy the ways of the world? Not by worldly standards! But from the perspective of whose reward we seek, what free gift we have received, and hope to keep, then righteousness is our only option!
God is so big, and so good, and so all-sufficient, all-loving, all-inclusive of every superlative you could ever list, that we are recipients of it all even though we could never earn it! Death reigns no more – not the death of the Old Testament; not the death of spirit. God’s gift of abundant grace must be reciprocated with “acceptable worship, with reverence and awe” not because he needs it, but because he deserves it! It is only the beginning of what we could ever do to express our gratitude and thanks! A song that just love ponders how the singer will react when she gets to heaven. She poses the questions, “Will I dance for you, Jesus? Will I fall to my knees? Will sing ‘halleluiah’ or in awe of you be still? I can only imagine.”
I cannot even begin to imagine! The recounting of the times humans actually came in contact with God is amazing! They trembled with fear – not because they felt in danger, but because humans are incapable of grasping and comprehending that kind of power. Righteousness is the only choice we have. To do what is right and wise in the eyes of God is all we can do as a small down payment for that unimaginable meeting with God in heaven when Christ comes again!
I hope today you live wisely and choose to do what is right in the eyes of God. And that you are called “righteous” by your brother, our savior, Jesus Christ.
Mary
