Springforth: A New Thing DevotionalSample

### Righteousness A Gift! "He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation." \- Psalm 24:5 This scripture makes it clear that righteousness is a gift available to you and me, which comes about from obedience and holiness (two synonymous words)! Some may say: “God is gracious and merciful; perhaps I can just stand in line to receive this righteousness or attend church regularly and pray for the gift of righteousness to befall me.” Well, let's take a closer look into Psalm 24. What does it say about the requirements for this gift? The preceding verse identifies the prerequisites for righteousness as 'clean hands' and 'a pure heart'; attached with watching what you say and do, by not swearing deceitfully or not regarding things of iniquity or vanity, i.e. idols or materialistic things. Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. - Psalm 24:3-4 Grace is also a requirement since the Bible makes it clear that the righteousness of man is like a filthy rag and the heart of man is desperately wicked. Therefore, man's heart cannot of its own accord become pure as in verse 4 of Psalm 24; it takes the grace of God. The truth about grace is that it will not just come and smack you in the face; neither can you just pray for grace, sit back and expect grace to abound and righteousness to follow. God wants us to be holy and to receive the gift of righteousness, but you have to actively seek it. 'Actively' being the key word here which requires us to make a conscious decision and effort to seek out righteousness, to find out what it is, what the requirements are, and then to go hard after it. In seeking righteousness, you'll find that a number of other unexpected blessings will follow, and this is not limited to material blessings either. The following scripture gives us a deeper insight into the everlasting blessing that the believer receives upon accepting the gift of righteousness. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. - Romans 5:17 (b) Let Us Pray: Father thank You for the gift of your grace, which is available to me, through Your Son Jesus Christ, who died that I might live and triumph over sin. Help me to understand the gift of Your righteousness, to seek after it ardently and to openly receive it. Purify me, cleanse my lips, and help me to stay pure. Help me to live a life that pleases You.