"For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
1 Peter 3:12
Over and over, we hear the word righteous in the Bible. We know that God is righteous. As Christians, we are to follow the example of Jesus in living moral lives. As humans, it seems like that bar is pretty high and almost unattainable. However, God would not ask anything of us that is not possible. In 1 Peter 3:8-16, we are given some practical guidelines that provide us with hope.
Be sympathetic
Love one another
Be compassionate and humble
Do not repay evil with evil
Do not reply to an insult with insult
Do good
Show gentleness and respect
Keep a clear conscience
Granted, at times, it may be difficult, but it is attainable. There is joy in knowing we can be righteous people. When we fail, which we do, we need only ask forgiveness and assistance to do better. God will answer our prayers, for his ears are attentive.
Lord, we acknowledge you are a righteous God. Your Son, Jesus, gave us the perfect example of what it means to live righteously, and in the Holy Spirit, you give us a helper to live as we should. We confess we often falter and fail, and for those times, we seek your forgiveness and help. Please let our lives be a light into the world. May others come to know you through us. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Tim
