Happy are the Righteous

Have you ever been pulled over by an officer for committing a traffic offence?  Were you ever ticketed and had to pay a fine?  Were you happy about it?  Were you ever called to the principal’s office or had to stay after school for misbehavior?  Were you happy about it?  The truth is that unrighteousness seldom brings happiness.  Unrighteousness, doing anything that is not morally or legally right, may bring pleasure for a season, but the piper always has to be paid and then there is no happiness. 

Ps. 106:3 says, “Happy are those who deal justly with others and always do what is right.” (NLT)  This psalm calls upon us to see that happiness is a product of certain behaviors that cause us to step outside ourselves.  We are to do justice to others.  That does not mean just demand that justice is done to the wicked.  It means that we will deal justly with others.  It is like the commandment, “Do unto others as you have them do unto you.”  We want people to deal honestly and fairly with us.  God wants us to deal honestly and fairly with others.  We feel in life that our basic needs should be met.  We should feel the same for others.  We appreciate mercy shown to us.  We should show it to others.  Justice isn’t in a court of law.  Justice is living our lives for the welfare of others that they may have their needs met JUST like we do.  They may have comfort in their cares JUST like we do.  They may have hope for their future JUST like we do.  Justice is JUST like US. 

But we don’t have that attitude.  We got ours and let the other guy get his own, too.  We have that attitude because we are sinful people.  Justice for us though, is really death, the wages of sin.  But God, who is Just and Judge, sent His Son so that He could JUSTIFY us.  He could take our sins away; pay the full penalty for them by His own death.  He could clothe us with His righteousness so that we could live just like Christ.  Now as Christians, or little christs, we will find happiness in living for the welfare of others as Christ lived and died for ours.  Now our righteousness is His and Him. 

Count Nicholas Von Zinzendorf wrote a hymn about this.  “Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness, my beauty are, my glorious dress.  Midst flaming worlds in these arrayed with joy shall I lift up my head.”  Happiness is found in Christ, our Righteousness, and in living His righteousness out in the world in which we live.  In this we will live justly and do right to the praise and glory of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. 

 

 

Visit my website at www.davidccraig.net for inspiring Christian books.  Coming this month is my newest book Taking Care of Joe.  This is the story of a caregiver for an Alzheimer’s patient.  See how God adds His grace in the face of this horrible disease and how living a life of love is living a life NOT interrupted. 

You can now also find some of my selected devotions at www.FEBC.org. Just click "blog" on the menu bar.  You can also learn more about this great mission organization by reading through their website.