Day 37 · Week 6
Passage: Psalm 119:137–144; Romans 3:21–26
Memory Verse: Matthew 5:6
Psalm 119:142 (KJV)
“Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.”
When the Bible speaks about righteousness, it begins with God.
God is righteous. His character is right, His ways are right, and His law expresses what is good and true.
Our problem is that we have not lived in perfect harmony with that righteousness. Scripture says that all have sinned. We cannot erase our past or make ourselves acceptable to God by simply trying harder from this point forward.
That is why the gospel is such good news.
Romans tells us about “the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.” We are justified freely by God's grace because of what Christ has done.
But God's purpose does not stop with declaring the sinner forgiven. He also wants to restore His character in us. The same Jesus who forgives us begins changing the way we think, speak, choose, and love.
So hungering for righteousness includes both a deep need to be right with God through Christ and a desire for God to make our lives right.
We do not obey in order to persuade God to save us. We desire obedience because the Savior we trust is changing our hearts.
Why is it important that righteousness begins with who God is rather than with our attempts to look good?
We need Christ both to forgive the guilt of sin and to change the heart that produces sin.
Thank Jesus for His righteousness and forgiveness. Ask Him to make His character increasingly visible in your family.