James 4:1-3
4 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
Sometimes our desire to be right (self-rightness) can stand in the way of God's Righteousness. We can sustain arguments to no avail for the sake of being right, but fail to allow room for God, in all his splendor, to make things right, for his glory's sake. Our ability to suffer wrong or indignation, for the sake of peace, often springs forth a far greater good, which may not always be beneficial for us, but others.
We all have an idea of what right looks like, but are we right? Literally and figuratively, I suppose. However, Marriam Webster does not have the final say, God does. So let us begin to remove ourselves from the equation, and patiently allow God to have his perfect work. A perfected will, in you and me, which saves us to the utmost. That is righteousness.
Jesus was asked a multitude of questions when he stood before Pontus Pilate. He could have responded with great exception but did not for the greater good. His purpose was not for prolonged philosophical or theological debate, but rather suffering for our sake, without such there would be no redemption, no hope of salvation. David, knowing full well he was anointed king, raised not his hand towards Saul who grew envious and sought to kill him day after day. Even Moses despised and cursed among the press of a multitude, his authority, for 40-years, constantly in question, humbly made his plea before the Lord, that again reflects Righteousness.
We ought to be people after God's heart, as the lyrics to the song suggest, as referenced in Psalm 42:10.
As the deer panteth for the water
So, my soul longeth after Thee
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship Thee.
You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship Thee.
How then do we know if our Righteousness is right and pleasing before God? How do we know if our offering is sufficient? Shall it reach the heavenly throne, or shall it return unto us empty as the heavens becomes as brass? There is no secret revelation reserved for private interpretation, God is always reaching out to us, striving to put us in a place where we can hear his voice. John 10:27-28 asserts, 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
