Pursue Righteousness

​The word righteousness is written about in the Bible over two hundred times. Its meaning is being in right relationship with God and conforming to His character. Righteousness is a matter of the heart and "comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." (Romans 3:22) It is the prophet Jeremiah who prophesied about the coming of a righteous King. "' The days are coming,' declares the Lord, 'when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness.’”
(Jeremiah 23:5, 6) While it is true that righteousness comes as a gift of God when we embrace faith in His Son, Jesus (Romans 5:17 and 2 Corinthians 5:21), we must do our part in pursuing it and living it out. Since Romans 3:10 tells us that God is the only One who is totally righteous, our pursuit must also be for an intimate relationship with the Lord Our Righteousness or "Yahweh Tsidqenu" in Hebrew.
 
In the Bible there are many promises of blessings for those who pursue righteousness. For example, Jesus called those who hunger and thirst for righteousness blessed in Matthew 5:6 of the beatitudes. He also says they "will be filled." Psalm 23:3 tells us that as our Shepherd, God "guides us in paths of righteousness for His name's sake." The Passion Translation interprets this verse in an interesting way: "He opens before me pathways to God's pleasure and leads me along in His footsteps of righteousness so that I can bring honor to His name." A footnote in this version explains, "It is a common trait for sheep on the hillsides of Israel to circle their way up higher. They eventually form a path that keeps leading them higher. This is what David is referring to here. Each step we take following our Shepherd will lead us higher, even though it may seem we are going in circles."
 
The promise that comes in Proverbs 21:21 about those who pursue righteousness is worth looking at: "He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity, and honor." In a recent teaching from Jonathan Cahn, leader of Hope of the World, he explains that the word "pursue" is a Hebrew word that also means "to hunt." The word hunt denotes searching determinedly for something or chasing after it. The word "pursue" indicates that we are to continuously chase after righteousness in our daily lives. It should be our life-long mission because God's desire for us it to be more like His Son.
 
Some other promises for the righteous (those who have made Jesus Lord and Savior) follow:
"Blessings crown the head of the righteous." (Proverbs 10:6)
"The righteous will flourish like a palm tree; they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon." (Psalm 92:12)
"...He who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward." (Proverbs 11:18)
"The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him." (Proverbs 20:7)
"The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer..." (1 Peter 3:12)
 
Our challenge is to be in constant pursuit of righteousness, not only because of the benefits that come with the hunt, but because this pursuit allows us to walk in the very presence of God. Scripture tells us, "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; love and faithfulness go before You. Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You, who walk in the light of Your presence, O Lord. They rejoice in Your name all day long; they exult in Your righteousness. For You are their glory and strength, and by Your favor you exalt our horn." (Psalm 89:14-17)