Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the Lord; and he (God) counted it to him (Abraham) for righteousness.

I looked up the definition of righteous in several dictionaries this morning to help me with this devotional. What I discovered was that they all have their own opinion of what it means. None of them were in agreement and I found that profane and profound at the same time. I can do that, after all it is my opinion.

Perfection in morality says one. Morality is defined by the society in which we live. It varies from country to country and even within different religions. Morality cannot be used as a standard for determining righteousness.

Strict adherence to the law says another. Men write and rewrite laws. Depending on the country you live in, laws are based on majority rule. Majorities change and so do laws. Law cannot be used as a standard for determining righteousness.

Forget using religion to help, we cannot agree on simple concepts within the bible, so how can we agree on something as complex as righteousness. Each religion has their own views anyway.

I said earlier that what I found was profound. This is what I saw in first use definition contained in my KJV bible and all those dictionaries. Opinion. Yes, righteousness is an opinion. Yours, mine, and all those writers of dictionaries do not count. Only God’s opinion counts. “He (God) counted it to him (Abraham)”.

My opinion about how right or wrong you are in anything you do, say, or think, doesn’t matter when it comes to righteousness. What does God say? Do you believe God? Do you know God? His opinion is the only one that counts.

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

 

2 Samuel 11:3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?

“Stupid is as stupid does.” Forrest Gump.

How easily we overlook our stupidity about sin. We aren’t very smart about it, even if we are very experienced at it. David, even before he acted on his sin, involved others in his sin. He inquired of others and sent messengers to bring her back to him. He wasn’t exactly secretive about his sin.

Sadly, my experiences with sin say I am no better. I couldn’t keep my mouth shut either. I involved others. In some cases I wanted company in sin. That is the insidious nature of sin, it propagates itself by proximity to others. If you think you are better at hiding your sin than I am, then good luck. I don’t believe it. Not because I don’t think you are careful, I just know the nature of sin. It will leak out.

Isaiah 3:9 The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.

The very look on your face will show you are sinning, it cannot stay hidden. It goes against sins nature to expose itself and you. That nature does not change just because you are saved. If anything it is more so because the Holy Spirit is tasked with the responsibility for bringing you to repentance.

But you can hide your sins effectively. Here is how.

James 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Psalm 8:9-10 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Lamentations 3:22-23 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

The Lord is merciful and faithful to forgive.