Walking in Righteousness
By Sandra Moats
Walking in righteousness is walking in the way of the cross. The cross
of Jesus Christ aligns our hearts in right standing with God
vertically, and with man upon earth horizontally. 2 Cor 5:21.
Righteousness does not cover sin, but rather exposes all within the
heart to God for cleansing. True righteousness shines through the life
of the Christian.
There are none without sin among us on earth. There was only one
sinless person that walked upon this planet. Jesus Christ came to show
us the Way, Truth and Life. He was, is, and forever will be pure
righteousness.
Humans are born in sin and we all sin each day. Thanks be to God, just
as the ocean cleans the beach each night as the tide comes in, when we
come before the Lord in prayer we are cleansed. We can wake up each
morning to a clean beach in our lives.
This generation, living in the end times, fail to understand sin, and
how it pulls one into the current of the world. That current is
stronger than any water current on earth. The time is short, and the
Devil is after every soul he can gain for hell.
There are temptations upon earth now that would put Sodom and Gomorrah
to shame. The younger generation has grown up in a time of good being
called evil and evil being called good. Ida 5:20. Abortions,
disrespect for parents, authorities, and dignitaries has become the
disgrace of our nation. Sin has grown into a large tree which covers
America. There was a time when our nation was covered by the hand of
God. This nation was a nation under God, and the 10 commandments were
the guide lines for our judicial system, but no longer is it that way.
We as a nation have broken the sixth Commandment of “Thou shalt not
kill” with abortion being legalized.
The Bible is kind of like a road map given to show us how to walk
through life in righteousness. It is alive with the Spirit of the
Living God not merely words written, but rather it is the Word of God
to be written on our hearts. Ps 119:11.
Everyone on earth is tested and tempted. God has provided through His
Word to give us instructions on what we are to do with temptation. The
Bible is not a book of rules, but a standard of conduct that He
expects us humans to live by. God says that sin is transgressing His
laws. I Jo 3:4; Ro 7:12-14..One definition of sin is, “ an act of
transgression against divine law”, Merriam -Webster, “Transgression of
the law of God “. Sin is when a person has gone outside the boundaries
of moral lines that God has set for us in the Bible.
Sin is lawlessness. When people are walking in sin they walk in
lawlessness. I Jo 3:4. We are not right with God nor man while we are
walking in sin.
Most of the sins listed in the Bible will fit within the 10
Commandments, Ex 20:3-17. The first Commandment, “Thou shalt have no
other gods before me. “ It covers loving anything more than God. That
can be your car, the internet, your family, pets, pursuits, work,
actually whatever you put before God in your thoughts, attachments,
and time.
The second Commandment, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven
image” tells us that there are consequences and benefits involved in
our families for generations depending on our faithfulness or lack
thereof to God.
The third Commandment connects our mouths with our love for God. “Thou
shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain.” ” For out of our
mouths come what is truly in our hearts. This commandment clearly
tells us not to use God’s name in cursing, swearing, mocking or in any
irreverent way.
The fourth Commandment requires our time and efforts, “ Remember the
sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Years ago in America everything was
closed on Sundays and people went to church to worship God. Parents
trained their children to follow God’s commandments. The sabbath day
is needed for rest and to keep ourselves focused on God’s ways. It is
not old fashioned to follow God, it is wisdom.
The fifth Commandment lays a foundation of respect in the home, and
gives children a promise from God. “Honor thy father and thy mother:
that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth
thee.” Honor means for children to follow the laws their parents have
taught them, taking care of aged or sick parents, not dishonoring
parents, striking or fighting with parents, making fun of them or
speaking evil or badly of them. Even if your parents haven’t been good
or even if they have been evil there is a way to walk through your
situation without breaking this commandment.
The sixth commandment, “Thou shalt not kill” speaks of our heart
condition. We must not have murder in our hearts, even when anger is
charged and ready to be released. We are called on earth to bring
blessings to others.
The seventh Commandment, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Both
adultery and fornication are in the translation of this commandment.
In today’s world some do not even know what adultery and fornication
are. Adultery is when two people are married and one is having sex
with someone other than their mate. Fornication is when two people are
having sex with each other outside of marriage. They are living
together in sin.
The eighth Commandment, “Thou shalt not steal” covers all areas of
being dishonest. It teaches us not to be lazy and work for our food.
This command forbids us to take what belongs to others.
The ninth Commandment, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy
neighbor” covers those we live near. We are not to speak evil of their
person or character. We have authorities to call if there is breaking
of the law.
The tenth Commandment speaks about our hearts. “ Thou shalt not covet
thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor
his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any
thing that is thy neighbor’s.” The law of God forbids us to desire to
take or have what belongs to others.
Jesus said all the commandments are summed up into two. Mark 12:30,31
“ And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this
is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou
shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment
greater than these.”
All of the Ten Commandments prohibit the highest form of any sin, such
as murder, adultery, and theft, they forbid every thought and word
that would lead to it. They are binding in all countries of earth and
in all ages. The Ten Commandments cover sins that lead people on earth
away from God and sets before us the path to physical and spiritual
health.
Even though we know the way at times we can be enticed to sin.
Temptations come into our thinking process in various ways. They may
come through a picture, something someone says to us, or through
something we hear or read. That temptation remains just temptations
unless we think upon what has tempted us. When those thoughts are held
and reviewed they become sin in our heart. Some can hide sin in their
heart for a length of time, but sooner or later that sin will come out
in an action. Then it becomes obvious to those around. “Then when lust
hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished,
bringeth forth death.” Jas 1:15.
A young married woman in one of our churches held unto a picture of a
man she was previously in love with. The temptation grew into sin as
she thought about him. A time came when she received a call from that
man and she was ready to act on her sin. She left her husband for that
man.
The devil uses many ways to temp us. He tempted Jesus with the
Scriptures. Mt 4:1-19. He tempted David with a beautiful woman. Simon
was tempted power, he tried to buy the power of the Holy Spirit so he
could acquire it. Ac 8:18-20.
The key to walking in righteousness is to kick that thought, picture
or whatever brought the temptation right out of your heart. Demand it
to leave your thinking processes and refuse to ponder it. Remove
yourself from any situation where you might find yourself being
tempted. Christians are told in the Bible to flee sin. I Ti 6:9-11. We
should flee situations where we are tempted. An example: a recovering
alcoholic should flee places where alcohol is available.
Apply the Scriptures to your mind. Impress them in your spirit every
time that temptation comes. Secure in your mind that you will love the
Lord your God more than anything or anyone on earth. “You shall love
the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind and with all
your strength.” It will take spiritual strength as you struggle in
your mind, especially if that temptation has lodged in your soul. But
know this for a fact, you can rid your spirit of that sin through the
power of God being released within through the Scriptures you stand
on. Jesus quoted Scriptures when He was tempted by the Devil. Mt 4.
You have to want to be free of the sin. This world is full of
temptations. The Bible tells us we can be assured that we will not be
tempted beyond our strength, that there is a way of escape provided,
and that we can endure temptation and be free of it. I Co 10:13.
As we grow in knowing Jesus we will mature in righteousness. Our
righteousness is simply Jesus in us overcoming our sinful human
nature. Our relationship with Him who is is the Way, Truth and Life
will affect all our relationships. The Lord desires that we walk in
righteousness so that others will see His light in us so they might
know Him also.
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