righteousness – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Winning the War: Obedience vs. Disobedience to God

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – October 23, 2024

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” —James 4:7

We were born into a spiritual war that we cannot win without the Divine Help of the Triune God—God, the Father, Jesus Christ, God, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit. Not only do we face an internal war of our will versus God’s will, and our desires versus God’s perfect plans, but we also have an external enemy, Satan who is in a tug of war with Jesus Christ for our souls.

God’s Warning: “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness…’ ” —Hebrews 3:7-8

Let’s explore the Biblical history of humanity’s rebellion against God: Our parents Adam and Eve desired to have more than the God-given perfect and abundant life in the Garden of Eden; Cain, their firstborn son despised obedience to God and demonstrated his rebellion by giving God his version of the required sacrifice and when it was rejected, he killed Abel, his only brother.

Continuous Rebellion: The enslaved Israelites who cried out for deliverance and God removed them from their Egyptian oppressors by parting the Red Sea continued to practice idol worship along with their ceremonial sacrifices to God. The Israelites remained in the wilderness for 40 years due to their loyalty to pagan gods and abject disobedience to God’s Commandments.

A common false belief remains in the Christian community: God’s mercies never end. Biblical history proves that God’s mercies do end. God’s Response and Judgment for the Disobedient Israelites: “Of all those I rescued from Egypt, no one who is twenty years old or older will ever see the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for they have not obeyed me wholeheartedly” (Numbers 32:11, NLT). Sadly, Moses and Aaron also lost their rights to enter Canaan.

God’s Judgment for Moses and Aaron: God told Moses and Aaron that they would not enter the Promised Land because they did not show faith in him: “Because you did not show faith in me by sanctifying me in the sight of Israel’s children, therefore you shall not bring this community to the land that I have given them” (Numbers 20:12).

Before we decide that God was harsh, here is the rest of the story. Something occurred in the minds of the wayward Israelites, they elevated Moses by worshiping him instead of God. And yes, Moses knew the people esteemed him over God but did nothing to inhibit their praise of him. Many believers also worship their pastors and church leaders by assimilating every spoken word as God’s Truth instead of studying the Bible for themselves under the teaching of the Holy Spirit to compare the sermons to the Holy Scriptures.

Numbers 20:7-11—Moses’ Error at Kadesh

“Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. 7 The Lord said to Moses, 8 ‘Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.’ “

“9 So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. 10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, ‘Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?’ 11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.”

Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land for two reasons: Disobedience by striking the rock and Dishonoring the Almighty God by stating, “Must we [referring to himself and Aaron] bring you water out of this rock?” Moses and Aaron could never produce water from a rock without the power of God. “…What you say flows from what is in your heart” (Luke 6:45, NLT).

Humanity’s Internal War: “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” —Jeremiah 17:9

The Prevalent Sin of Accepting Praise: Never let people distract you from thanking God, the Giver of all good things. Our talents, abilities, and spiritual gifts are God-given. When we elevate ourselves above God by not giving Him the honor when others praise us, we take credit for our accomplishments which feeds our carnal nature of pride and dishonors God.

Humanity’s External War: “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” —1 Corinthians 10:13

Has God given us more than we can bear? Is it possible to overcome temptation and live holy? Yes, it is possible to obey God. We choose to rebel against God. When we sin, it is not spontaneous, we decide before the temptation to sin against God. No one including our archenemy Satan can coerce or force us to sin. In response to our prayers for help, God has promised to give us spiritual strength, but we must cooperate with divinity by saying, “No” to our inner desires and the presenting temptation.

Satan’s Greatest Deception for 21st Century Christians: “Do not be unequally bound together with unbelievers [do not make mismatched alliances with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14, AMP).

The Compromise: Yesterday, I read a post that stated, “Well, Jesus would hang out with sinners” to justify the relationships of believers with unbelievers and to socialize with those who do not acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of their lives.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).

Jesus came to this Earth to complete the Plan of Redemption required to save our souls. For the believers with converted hearts who pray and study the Scriptures, we know Jesus’ Divine purpose when He lived on this earth. His witness was to share that He was the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and through grace, all could be saved who accepted Him.

“They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” —John 17:16

“Christians should not follow the world’s values, beliefs, and actions. Instead, they should follow Christ’s word, represent his kingdom, and show the Father’s love and kindness.”

“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts a good character.’ ” —1 Corinthians 15:33

Cause: When we do not accept a person for who they really are and think they have the potential to rise above their sinful character traits, habits, and lifestyle [without accepting Christ as their personal Savior], we attempt to change them which is impossible. Effect: When they never reach our expectations (based on our imaginary feelings), we get upset because we think they owe us something.

Pay attention, listen, and accept people for who they really are. If they have not accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and do not strive to live holy, how can they help you in your spiritual walk with God? Every day, we stand at the Crossroads of Choosing God or Satan—Obedience or the Disobedience of Rebellion against God. If we choose to remain in an unholy relationship, sadly, the one who compromises and changes is the believer who was once dedicated and loyal to God.

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” —John 3:17-18

“For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up; but the wicked stumble in bad times.” —Proverbs 24:16

Gifted with the free will of choice, we choose our destiny. Either we surrender in faithful obedience to the will of God, pray to be forgiven of our sins, and strive to live holy with the strength of Christ or we condemn ourselves by giving into the internal desires of our hearts and the external pleasures offered by Satan.

Jesus’ Surrender to God, the Father: “And after going a little farther, He fell face down and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it is possible [that is, consistent with Your will], let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.’ ” —Matthew 26:39, AMP

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed to God, the Father for an alternative to the suffering and cruel death of dying on Calvary’s cross, but God said “No” to His beloved Son. For Jesus’ obedience, He Arose from the chains of death and sits on the throne at the Right Hand of God, the Father, still, He is always interceding for fallen humanity—the righteous and covers us with His Grace, Mercies, and Righteousness.

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” —Revelation 22:12-13

“Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.” —Revelation 22:14

Lord God, we ask forgiveness for following our heart’s desires and the temptations that easily make us fall into the rebellion of disobedience when we exclude you from our lives. We ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and anoint us with Your Divine strength to live as obedient overcomers. Lord, teach us how to live holy. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.

Evidence of Our Love and Loyalty to God

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – September 13, 2024

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” —John 10:27-30

What is Love and Loyalty to God? What does it mean to hear Christ’s Voice? What is the evidence proving we are preparing for eternal life? What are the characteristics and the righteous lifestyle demonstrating that God is first in our lives?

God Is LOVE: Jesus’ Command to All Believers: “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” —Matthew 22:37-39

God’s Command to All Believers: “Be holy, for I Am Holy.” —1 Peter 1:16

The Test of Knowing God—”First, get to know God properly by coming into a right relationship with His Son Jesus Christ. Don’t make assumptions where your salvation is concerned.” AngieBroks

Every day, We Pursue Righteousness—”For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). Seeking God’s will is of the utmost importance and reflects whether or not we serve Him with surrender and faithful obedience.
Jesus is Our First Love—”For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people” (1 Timothy 2:5-6). Daniel prayed three times a day to ensure he stayed in God’s will. We pray and obey: “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands” (1 John 2:3).
We Pray Continuously for Guidance: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). “Jesus often withdrew to secluded places to pray alone, including in the morning, on mountains, and in gardens.”
Study the Scriptures: “Study to show youself approved unto God…” (2 Timothy 2:15). The Bible is the Voice of God. God’s expectations of us, His commands, the righteous characteristics we must possess, and the Christian lifestyle are identified in the Holy Scriptures.
Strive for Christ’s Righteousness and Character: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another” (Galatians 5:22-26).
We Hate Sin and Love the Sinner—”Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness” (1 John 2:9). Our role is to pray for others, not to focus on their sinful lifestyles. We demonstrate Agape love [God’s Unconditional Love] through kindness to everyone including our enemies.

In Our Christian Journey, We Face Two Great Challenges: Consistently Loving God and Loving Others

God’s Love and Sacrificial Offering for Sinful Humanity: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16-17). Loving God is understanding that He is Love. He gave Jesus, His only Son to save our souls.

Love Every One! Our Righteousness is Nothing: For those who judge others and fail to realize that Christians are also sinners saved by grace who chose to surrender and give our hearts to God, God says, “But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousness are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6).

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). With humility, we acknowledge every day that we must be covered with the Righteousness of Christ to be saved from sin.

Only those who possess hearts filled with love and loyalty for God and love for others will receive the reward of Eternal life, “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Revelation 22:12).

Evidence of Our Love and Loyalty to God: “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” —John 3:21

Lord God, we ask You to search our hearts and reveal all character traits preventing us from possessing unconditional love for You and others. In Jesus’ Holy and Righteous Name, we pray. Amen.

Integrity: The Righteous Standard

Our Daily Walk with Christ Devotional – April 22, 2024

“Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. (2) With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.”

“Then Peter said, ‘Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? (4) Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.’ “

“When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. (6) Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.” —Acts 5:1-6

Integrity reveals righteousness. Believers live by God’s righteous standards—always speaking and acting according to the righteous moral and social laws given by God. The lack of integrity is a heart issue. It reveals that sin is ruling our hearts instead of the righteousness of Christ.

“When it comes to human integrity, the Apostle Paul, quoting from various Psalms says, “There is no one righteous, not even one….for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:11-23), so the opposite of righteousness is sin. As much as this word is avoided, and even hated today, the truth is that lack of integrity is not merely an issue of behaviour that can be improved…”(Cross Current).

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” —Proverbs 3:5-6

Many years ago, I was hired for a nursing management position in one of the best nursing homes. After many years of clinical nursing, I was very excited that God blessed me with the opportunity to develop my skills. When I was introduced to the Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), all but one welcomed me. One of my responsibilities was to make supervisory rounds to assess staff challenges while rendering resident care. As I slowly opened the door to *Mr. Smith’s room, I witnessed an act of horror—the CNA slapped the patient’s face in response to his combative behavior. The CNA was unaware that I had entered the room until the patient cried out, “Miss help me, she hit me in the face.” She let go of his arm, turned to me, and stated, “I did not hit him! He hit me!” My response was, “Yes, you did slap his face!” As I turned to leave, she immediately followed me and without remorse stated, “I have five children to support.”

The Outcome: I reported the incident to my Director who informed the Administrator. Not all of the state agency’s protocol was followed, yes the CNA was reported to the State Department responsible for Certification, but the facility’s responsibility to file criminal charges for assault and battery was not carried out [a decision by the home’s administrator]. The reason given was to protect the facility’s reputation.

The restoration of humanity’s lost righteousness is a central theme of the Bible. The only person in human history whose life was absolutely integrated, in whom there is nothing to blame, whose beliefs, words, and deeds were in perfect harmony was Jesus Christ. His character and life is a perfect example of integrity. (Cross Current)

“So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him” (verse 14 NIV) “…beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:17-18, NKJV)

Our faith and righteousness are tested when facing situations that require a compromise of integrity. To possess spiritual integrity under all circumstances is not a work we can accomplish without the Holy Spirit. From praying daily for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, we receive the spiritual wisdom and discernment to recognize and respond to corrupt situations as Christ would respond.

“The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.” —Proverbs 11:3

We have to make a decision. The courage to do what is right in God’s eyes is not given to us by the Holy Spirit. Courage comes from within. Will we stand strong although we may endure loss? Choosing right reveals our love for God and our true character. The decision to stand for God’s Righteous moral code reveals that we faithfully trust in God’s promise to never leave us or forsake us. We boldly proclaim, “No, I will not agree to do that!” when our morals and values align with the holiness of Christ, our Rock of Righteousness.

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” —Matthew 7:13-14

Without the humility to surrender and be led by the Holy Spirit, we will live a life of compromise, never growing spiritually. Because our hearts are desperately wicked, we were born with the inner drive to choose evil over good. Yes, the Christian life is a continuous struggle! Temptation is covert—always concealed as the best option, but sin requires a compromise of sanctified holiness.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.” —Matthew 5:6

Integrity flows from a converted and committed heart that seeks after the Righteousness of Christ. Christ completed His spiritual mission on earth. God clearly defines our responsibility in the plan of Salvation, to seek righteousness. To overcome the enemy’s tactics, we need Divine Help continuously.

Prayer invites all of heaven’s supernatural power to give us the strength to face every struggle and overcome it! Our mindset must be one of spiritual awareness which only comes from a life of prayer on bended knees. When we do our part by remaining steadfast in the Lord, the Holy Spirit anoints us with the power to live holy, sanctified lives possessing uncompromised integrity. © SDJ April 2024

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” —Matthew 5:8

Pursuing Christ Through Personal Worship

Pursuing Christ Through Personal Worship Today’s Devotional December 11, 2023

“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” —Matthew 6:6

Our most important time with God is through our daily personal worship. The time spent with God in prayer and Bible study provides the life-sustaining spiritual nourishment that feeds and replenishes our souls. Created in the image of God, our souls are connected to Him. We cannot fill the emptiness of our souls without God.

Jesus tells us to separate ourselves because worship places us in God’s Holy presence. Quiet solitude frees us from interruptions and distractions allowing us to focus on our intimate relationship with Christ. Worship is a one-to-one interaction between us and God. During personal worship, we surrender our will, and with faith, we renew our daily covenant with Christ to follow Him.

Our intentional and unrushed time with God places us in a posture of humility and demonstrates our faith in His faithfulness. The more time we spend in worship the greater the blessing we receive. The Holy Spirit gives us the spiritual revitalization and restoration that our minds, souls, and bodies rely on to be victorious overcomers through Christ.

“Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.” —Psalm 54:4

To remain faithful in perilous times, it’s best if we have daily worship in the morning and evening. To commune with God is to receive life-sustaining strength, peace, joy, and happiness. Do you know Christians who always have joyful expressions on their face? They are spending time with God which gives them confidence even when going through trials and tribulations.

The Holy Spirit provides us with supernatural strength, clarity, wisdom, and guidance. No longer do we possess a sense of dread when facing our activities of daily life. Not only do we receive the spiritually energizing power to effectively achieve our daily tasks, but we remain energized until the completion of our daily goals.

Worship is more than praying and listening to inspirational music. We pray for Divine wisdom before we diligently study the Holy Scriptures because we need the Holy Spirit to provide us with the only accurate definition of God’s written Words of Truth. Spiritual discernment is a gift from the Holy Spirit that prevents us from embracing false or convoluted teachings based on another person’s interpretation.

Studying the Scriptures imparts us with the vital knowledge of God’s promises. When hardships arise, instead of fear, anxiety, or stress, we enjoy God’s greatest blessings of peace, joy, and restoration. The Bible contains God’s Righteous precepts and commands which keep us on the Narrow Path of Righteousness. The word of God also provides us with an understanding of the perilous times we live in.

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” —Romans 8:26

Worship is for the weak. Although our weaknesses differ, every believer is weak in some area of their lives due to our inherited carnal hearts that gravitate toward pleasing ourselves. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit rescues us by giving us the spiritual wisdom and discernment needed to recognize internal and external spiritual warfare. And He also gives us the strength to walk away from temptation.

When facing temptation or life’s dilemmas, whisper a prayer for help. Effectual prayer is our greatest weapon against Satan. Self-reliance is abated when we ask for the Divine reinforcement of the Holy Spirit. We desperately need to make prayer our first response so we do not succumb to the raging internal battle of satisfying our heart’s carnal desires.

The benefits of daily worship are endless, but most importantly, we show honor, reverence, and respect for our Awesome Heavenly Father. Aligning ourselves with His perfect will demonstrates our faithful obedience. Worship allows us to receive spiritual growth and the transformation of our mind, character, and personality.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law (Galatians 5 22-23). And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:32).

From consistently staying in the presence of God, we are changed into the likeness of Christ’s Character. Our character and personality begin to align with the Fruit of the Spirit, and our hearts overflow with the love of God as demonstrated by a gentle and loving spirit.

“‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” —Jeremiah 33:3

From our time with God, our spiritual insight deepens and God reveals great and mighty things that we do not know. Our heightened awareness includes a greater appreciation for God’s love, grace, and abundant mercies. Instead of relying on our feelings when challenges arise, we remain steadfast because we trust in the faithfulness of God’s Character.

Personal worship prepares us for Eternal life where we will freely worship God with pure hearts in a perfect New Heaven and New Earth.

Prayer: God, we thank You for the privilege of boldly approaching Your Throne to receive grace in our time of need which is every day. We surrender ourselves completely to You and ask for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.