Rewards of Righteous Living

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 24, Jeremiah 22, Psalm 112, John 18

“Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who delights greatly in His commandments.” Psalm 112:1 “Surely he will never be shaken; the righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.” Psalm 112:6

Psalm 112 explores the blessings of the righteous. We were recently traveling through Italy. We saw so much beautiful artwork and masterpieces over a period of a couple of days that we came up with a little saying, “Just another 1000-year- old masterpiece.” Here in the United States if something is 200 years old we think that is old, but in the broader picture of things, we are such a new and fledging nation. Nevertheless, in Italy, these 1000-year-old masterpieces were everywhere…and we observed so many historical sites that were 1000’s of years old. However, to imagine that something will be everlasting---that stretches the mind doesn’t it? It says here in Psalm 112 that the ‘righteous’ will be in everlasting remembrance. The word righteous means, right, correct, righteous (as justified and vindicated by God), correct and lawful. I like to think of the word righteous as ‘right standard’ or ‘right way’. Pastor’s message today on Words 2B Wise, on discipline, falls right in to this category. Living a righteous life, one that understands discipline and the wisdom of delayed gratification, is a life lived by God’s standard and we read here of the rewards. The Psalmist reiterates the outcome of the righteous---that we will be in everlasting remembrance. As parents, we have great influence over our children. The most important thing we should be influencing them toward is living righteously—God’s right way of living. Really though, the thing that counts the most is living for Jesus and putting Him first and His standard of living. This is God’s dream for us— we will be remembered forever. “But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.” Matthew 6:33 (Amplified)

Blessings, Carol

Next Reading: Jeremiah 23, 25, John 19