TUESDAY, JULY 25
Philippians 3:1-11
Philippians 3:9

"And be found in him,
…the righteousness which is of God by faith."

DO RIGHTEOUSNESS (2)

God’s Word declares that only God is righteous. "The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works" (Ps 145:17). He is the "righteous God" who tries our hearts (Ps 7:9). He is "the righteous LORD" who loves righteousness (Ps 11:7; cf. Heb 1:9). Because God "is righteous… every one that doeth righteousness is born of him" (1 John 2:29). To do the right things according to God’s will and Word, our hearts and motives must be right before Him first. We must be born again, and there is no other way!

It is vain for those who do righteousness outwardly, but within they "are full of hypocrisy and iniquity" like the Pharisees (Matt 23:28). It is vain for those who try to keep themselves from defilement of the world, but their hearts still "proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness" (Mark 7:21-22). When we are born again, we may understand God’s righteousness and shall not try to establish our own righteousness externally like the Jews (Rom 10:3), but regard all things but loss to know Christ and to "win Christ, 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" (Phil 3:8-9). What a great blessing to know and appreciate the Lord Jesus Christ, "who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" (1 Cor 1:30)! Truly, "THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" ( Jer 23:6)!

Moreover, with the help and power of the Holy Spirit, "the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Rom 8:4). When we yield to the Holy Spirit and walk after the Spirit, we will have the right heart, mind, understanding and motive to do God’s will and Word acceptably to our righteous God. This way, the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us when we live righteous lives in conformity with God’s law. All glory to the Lord!

THOUGHT: Am I fulfilling God’s righteousness by the Holy Spirit?
PRAYER: Lord, help me do the right things according to Thy will.