Bible Reading: Deut. 11,12,13. Mark: 12:1-22
“When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD thy God.” – Deuteronomy 13:18 (KJV)
A renown minister defined righteousness as doing what is right at the right time. Keeping all of God’s commandments is synonymous to doing what is right in the eyes of the LORD. When we are total in obeying divine injunction as stated in God’s word it is tantamount to a righteous living. It is a life of total surrender to the will of the Almighty. When we do this we become recipients of divine guidance and direction.
Our society is fraught with men and women living outside God’s commandment. The consequences of living outside God’s injunction are untimely death, murder, war, unguided and inglorious ambition, wickedness etc., etc. When the individuals in a society are predominantly operating outside divine instructions and tenets, that society will suffer from depravity and gross moral decadence. God’s commandments are given for the purpose of building a society with strong moral values that will entrench peace and harmony. When societies are built on these righteous values, it enhances progress and development that thrives in atmosphere of peace.
Jesus admonished us to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and unto God what belongs to God. In other words, the word of God encourages believers to render their obligation to the government as law abiding citizens. Living righteously therefore entails being obedient to the law of the land. The scriptures went further to request believers to pray for our leaders and those in authority. When we act in line with God’s instruction we build a progressive and peaceful society as enunciated in 1Timothy 2:1-2(KJV) “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplication, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” This connotes living righteously as an obligation on the path of all believers.
We must go beyond speaking out boldly against evil and wickedness to praying for our leaders. To hearken unto the voice of the LORD is to adhere to His instructions. God’s voice is heard clearly from His word, therefore to hearken to His voice is to live by His instructions and commandment as stated in His Word. When this happens we begin to be an expression of God among men.
My dear readers it is time we began to positively affect our society with righteous living by fully obeying God’s word for our daily living.
Prayer: Dear Lord, I pray for grace for obedience upon your children to live in total compliance to your word.
Bro. Joel Ezeugo