The Bible in Depth – #4

Study Four
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Righteousness - Part 2

Every human being wants to know about God, not just His coordinates, but who He really is, and most importantly, what is our relationship to Him. From His side, He has the same questions. He wants a very intimate relationship with you, but He, like us, must analyze how best to achieve that. We humans are known to be flighty, and we resist any attempt to box us into a relationship. We’ve all been burned. God most of all. But He is faithful; something we humans admire yet are very suspicious of when someone moves in too close, too fast.
 
 So, God puts in writing what He has to offer and how He is willing to give it.  We are free to challenge His position whenever and however we please, but He is not budging. This study is about our advancement toward each other: Him establishing His right standing with us, and us establishing our right standing with Him. Put Him to the test. If He says He loves you, that will never change.

24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
 
25 Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
 
28 So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
 
31 Therefore, do not worry, saying ‘what shall we eat?’ or What shall we drink” or ‘What shall we wear?” 32 For after all these things, the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble (Mathew 6:24–34).
 
Before I surrendered to Jesus, I was a master at worrying. I could stay up all night at times just worrying, worrying, worrying. Of course worrying like that never produced anything, but when I met Jesus, He took my worries on Himself, and actually, I could throw my worries on Him before I went to sleep, and in the morning my sensibilities would have the answer.
 
But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:31, 32).
 
What Kingdom is He speaking of? The Kingdom of Heaven, of course. Or sometimes known as The Kingdom of God—right here, right now. This is not some pie in the sky promise. This is a roadmap to having all your needs met and your desires awarded to you. God is a giver. He loves to give good things to His children. I’m a parent; I like to do that, too. He is offering you His Kingdom. What’s the entry key? Seeking Him.
 
13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You have sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world, 19 and for their sakes I sanctify Myself that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
 
20 I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word. 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You, that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me (John 17:13–23).
 
Do you remember having a best friend as a kid? We need those friends. If we can’t find one around us, we’ll invent a best friend. Before I was old enough for school, my mom worked all day, and my grandma worked all night, so neither one was available to take care of me. I found a stick in the yard that was as long as I was tall, and that stick became my best friend. We rode the bus a lot back then, and I insisted that if I sat down my stick friend had to also sit down in his own seat. This humiliated my mother no end, but I would not allow my best friend to stand; I believe his name was Paul.
 
Today my best friend is Jesus. I can go to Him for anything. He has the right answer to every question I may have, and He never reveals my secrets.
 
Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father (Galatians 1:4).
 
In olden times, mostly with royal families and those who could afford such luxury, there were persons whose job was to be the “whipping boy.” If a child was naughty and deserved a whipping, this child would be brought to the parents, and they would whip him instead of their own child. Jesus gave His body to the torture of the cross, taking the whipping we deserved.
 
12 Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the Kingdom of the Son of His love (Colossians 1:12, 13).
 
Not only did Jesus take our punishment, He delivered us from the devil and his heinous works, and like a special delivery, He was swept into the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of the Son of God’s Love. This is no “Steak on Your Plate While You Wait.” This is the Kingdom of God here on earth while we live in it both here and there.
 
The Story of the Prodigal Son: Luke 15:11–32.
 
I hope you took the time to read this story. It probably wasn’t your first time to know about these two sons, but it may be your first time to recognize yourself in one or both of these boys. The one foolishly throws God’s gifts away on ungodly things. The other never enjoyed the gifts of God here on earth as the Lord planned as he was up-tight, controlling, and only had eyes for the work he had to do.
 
Relax. Enjoy this earth ride, but not for things not of God. Open your eyes and see the beauty around you and appreciate the blessings God has prepared for you.
 
And the Lord will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the Lord swore to your father to give to you (Deuteronomy 28:11).
 
You might want to read all of Deuteronomy 28 and find out where your blessings are and how to get them and then keep them. God thought it all out before He made the earth as your home and planned where and when you would live.
 
This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success (Joshua 1:8).
 
This verse in Joshua is considered to be the Key to prosperity. Make the Word such a part of your life that you find yourself quoting it all the time—not necessarily to others—but definitely to yourself. In fact, the Scriptures used in this study are great ones to mutter to yourself on a continual basis. Take one a day, like medicine.
 
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
 
I like to add my name to this one: and my God shall supply all my need….
 
And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you (John 16:23).
 
Jesus is putting God, His Father, on the spot here, but He means what He says, and He says what He means. Try it out. Remember, once you ask, you expect. You never throw in the towel. You keep on keeping on with solid faith that God will do whatever you ask.
 
If you ask anything in My name, I will do it (John 14:14).
 
Now He puts Himself on the spot. Do you think He will do it? He is rather emphatic that yes, He will do it!
 
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord JESUS Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).
 
Whether the request of what we want is from earth, or from heaven, God has already supplied the answer.
 
Therefore, He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him since He always lives to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:25).
 
I’m so glad to know that even the people I pray for will receive the blessings.
 
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore, the world does not know us, because it did not know HIM (1 John 3:1).
 
Try that on for size: I am a child of God. I am a member of His immediate family. He loves me more than anyone else I know whom I might suspect loves me. He will never leave me. He will never be embarrassed by me. I can barge into His office anytime I want to. Why? Because I am His child.
 
Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ (Galatians 4:7).
 
My parents have died, and I know my inheritance, stocks, bonds, cash, etc.—certainly not enough to buy a house—but I am not disturbed because I am an heir of God. Jesus, His Son, and me, His daughter, we have inherited all of heaven and earth! You have too.
 
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God; (Philippians 4:6).
 
Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).
 
With Love to my brothers and sisters,
Amen.