Does God see you as righteous?

Psalm 37:23-34

As I read this morning, these selected verses spoke into my life, let me share a few with my thoughts.  Verses 23-24, “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.”  Have you considered what it means to delight in God?  Let us examine what it means to delight in God, do you find joy and satisfaction in your life because you are in step with His will?  Do you have a deep appreciation for God’s character, His attributes, and His many blessings?  Over many years of desiring to be a follower of Christ or a Micah 6:8 man, I believe the Lord has refined my mind and will to want His will, and I do delight in Him.  I am not saying in any way I’ve arrived, but my heart's desire is to finish strong.  Micah 6:8, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Wow, verses 25-31, also give us guidelines to not lean on our understanding, for the thoughts and ways of God often make no sense to mankind.  It helps me to always go back to what I make in my shop, the wood may not like my design, and if it could talk to me it might say so, but wood cannot speak and I’m in charge.  That’s my relationship with the Father, I’m the created, and He is the Creator, and unlike my handling of the wood, His design is always best.  Verses 25-26, I witness, and it has been true in my life.  “I was young, and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing.”  (Note: It only disgraces the Father, when churches and people who claim to be followers of Christ, go begging to a non-believer for funds to do what they believe is God’s work.)

And let’s end today with verse 34, “Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.”  Most of us are uncomfortable about waiting; we need it now or sooner, but that is not the way of God, we learn much from waiting.  Many of us have garages with stuff to good to give or throw away, and some rent storage rooms to keep all their stuff in that is no longer used and may never have been needed.  Why, because they could not wait for God to provide it or for the funds.  Many have become enslaved to credit card debt, and live lives in fear of losing it all. 

So ponder on this; are you delighting in God, are you waiting for him, are you walking in righteousness?  I’m not asking if you’re a good person in your opinion, no the question is; does God see you as righteous? 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice