“If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him” – 1 John 2:29 NKJV
In seeking God, we are also to seek His righteousness. What does this look like? Righteousness is “right-standing” with God and being acceptable to Him. The most important thing to understand is that God’s righteousness is not achieved through good own works or personal efforts, but rather it is received by faith in Jesus Christ. This is amazing news! So what part do we have to play in pursuing God’s righteousness?
1 John 2:29 says that those who practice righteousness are born of Him. One of the analogies that Jesus gives us is the connection between the vine and the branch. In John 15:1-8, Jesus illustrates the nature of our relationship with Him and with God the Father. “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (John 15:1-2, NKJV). Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. As long as we are attached to the vine (living in righteousness), we as the branches will produce good fruits. And branches that do not produce good fruits will be removed. So one good way to know whether or not we are living in righteousness is by the fruits we produce. Galatians 5:22-23 discusses what some of these fruits are and they are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. As children of God, our actions reflect His holiness and righteousness. Therefore, we must allow the Holy Spirit to lead our actions and thoughts so that we can produce the fruits outlined in Galatians 5:22-23.
Another reflection of how we pursue God’s righteousness is how we pray. What I mean by this is that we may be asking God for something but are not making choices that are in conformity to His will. And this could lead us to ask for what is not part of God’s will for us. I have personally experienced asking God for specific things by praying and praying, but wondering why I am not receiving the answers I expected. I had to take a step back and ask myself, “Are my desires even in conformity to God’s will? Do I even have an idea of what His will might be for me in this situation? Am I sincerely spending time in the study of the Word reading and in prayer in order actually know His will?” I had to remind myself of Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you (NKJV).
produce. Galatians 5:22-23 discusses what some of these fruits are and they are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. As children of God, our actions reflect His holiness and righteousness. Therefore, we must allow the Holy Spirit to lead our actions and thoughts so that we can produce the fruits outlined in Galatians 5:22-23.
Another reflection of how we pursue God’s righteousness is how we pray. What I mean by this is that we may be asking God for something but are not making choices that are in conformity to His will. And this could lead us to ask for what is not part of God’s will for us. I have personally experienced asking God for specific things by praying and praying, but wondering why I am not receiving the answers I expected. I had to take a step back and ask myself, “Are my desires even in conformity to God’s will? Do I even have an idea of what His will might be for me in this situation? Am I sincerely spending time in the study of the Word reading and in prayer in order actually know His will?”
It is through the renewal of our minds by reading the word of God, applying its principles, and allowing the Holy Spirit to do His work in our lives that we pursue God’s righteousness. Our private time with God is also an important part of seeking His righteousness and is just as essential as what we do publicly in our interactions with others.
I am still undergoing the process of surrendering to God’s will and focusing on seeking Him and His righteousness, both privately and publicly. And yet, it is extremely encouraging that we can rest assured in God’s promise to us that as long as we earnestly seek God, renew our minds by studying the Word and displaying the fruits of the Spirit we become more and more able to discern God’s will and live within it. Thankfully we never have to do this alone because Jesus has promised us the Holy Spirit who helps guide us and encourage us in our Christian walk!
