Way to RighteousnessSpeaker: Sis. Stella Dhinakaran Gist: The Lord always wants you to be righteous. He wishes to dispel the darkness in your life and make His light shine upon you. When others see your life, they will draw near to the Lord Jesus. He is going to honour you more and more. "By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many." (Isaiah 53:11)
"He desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:4)
When we come to know God, He will remove all our drawbacks. It is God's will that every man and woman should become righteous. It is for this reason that Jesus gave His precious life. You may celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas day. You may meditate upon His death on Good Friday. You may celebrate His resurrection on Easter day. But do you stop with mere celebrations and remembrance? Or, have you made any great change in your heart? Consider, my dear friend.
One day, Jesus and His disciples went to Samaria. The disciples of Jesus were only concerned with how to procure food. But Jesus had said that fulfilling His Father's will was meat and drink for Him. Tired after a long journey, He sat by the side of a well. When a woman came to draw water, Jesus opened a conversation with her to see how much she knew about God. But she said in an indifferent manner, "I know that Messiah is coming (who is called Christ). When He comes, He will tell us all things" (John 4:25). She did not know to whom she was speaking. The Lord said to her, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you" (John 15:16). God was willing to fill her with the knowledge about Himself.
"But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more" (Romans 5:20). Accordingly, His grace was poured upon her. When Jesus revealed to her all about her past life, she was surprised. The grace of God surged into her sinful life and her life was transformed completely. Even without her knowledge, a great joy came into her and she went into her town singing within her, "I have the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart." She spoke to everyone she met about the glory of Jesus. Because they heard her words and also saw Jesus in person and listened to Him, many in the town believed in Jesus.
"Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified." (Romans 8:30)
When a devil-possessed man who was called himself Legion was released from his bonds, he begged Jesus that he may follow Him. But Jesus replied to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you" (Mark 5:19).
My dear friend, do you have the assurance that the Lord has made you righteous? Offer Him thanksgiving and pray, "Lord, You have made me righteous. For all these, I offer You crores and crores of praises and thanks." If you have not yet had this experience and joy, pray with a real burden, "Father, even as You spoke to me today with the words of love and comfort, I thank You. You shed for me on the cross Your precious blood. Cleanse me with Your blood and make my life pure and holy. Purify the sin-stained life which I lived till now. Make me righteous." The Lord who showed His grace to the Samaritan woman will also be gracious to you. He will include your name in the roll of the righteous. He will dispel the darkness in your life and make light to shine upon it. Others will see your life and through your good works, they will draw near to the Lord Jesus. He is going to honour you more and more.
Prayer:
Loving Heavenly Father.
You have saved me from my sinful life. You spoke to me just as You spoke to the Samaritan woman and revealed to her that You are the Messiah. You shed for me on the cross Your precious blood. Cleanse me with Your blood and make my life pure and holy. Change the sin-stained life which I have lived till now. Make me righteous. In Jesus' matchless name, I pray.
Amen. |