Proverbs 21:21
He who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honor.
What is righteousness?
Romans 3 tell us that righteousness of the Lord comes by belief, personal trust and confident reliance on Christ Jesus. Abraham believed in, trusted in, relied on and remained steadfast to the Lord and this was counted to him as righteousness. Righteousness in its true form means uprightness and right standing with the Lord and goes hand in hand with justice. It is evident in one’s character of conscious integrity, morality and sincerity. It is the complete opposite of all wickedness. The Lord values righteousness so much so that righteousness and justice are the foundations of His throne and so should be the foundations of our lives too.
The Lord is able to release tremendous power through the prayer of a righteous person. The words, teachings and very lips of a righteous person are like a well of life with living truth flowing from the fountain of life. A righteous person is blessed with revelation knowledge and superior discernment. They understand the needs of the poor and cares for them. Their heart is kind even to animals. Their friends turn to them for good advice for they are not phony and deceitful. Though they may suffer adversity and stumble many times, they continue to rise again and again. They live an honest life and their children consider themselves fortunate to have them as their parents.
Can a man be truly fully justified and righteous before the Lord? How can he who is born of a woman be pure and clean? Beloved, that is the inheritance we have in Christ Jesus. Through His scarlet blood, we are washed clean, justified and sanctified. He is our righteousness! All we need to do is trust and obey Him with all our heart!
