Gracious Father, we marvel at the sacrificial work of Christ that met us in our spiritually dead state and miraculously breathed eternal life into us. Now justified and on the road to sanctification, we are called to partake in the riches of our inheritance and to leave behind our once famished, desolate life. Blessings beyond our comprehension await us day by day. We confess our natural tendency is to build our own self-righteous kingdoms based on our own relative truth and chase in our own mad way to satisfy our need for intimacy, identity, and influence in this world. Forgive us, Lord Jesus.
We pray that we might trust you, our only source of true satisfaction and holy righteousness, thus bringing honor and glory to your name and life to our souls. This is not a righteousness of our own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ.
Lord Jesus, we confess this righteousness is beyond our fleshly reach. Like our justification, our sanctification depends solely on your redeeming power. Holy righteousness is beyond our ability to conform. It demands not only a commitment to outside appearance, but a transforming change of our inward motives of our heart as communicated by Christ in the Sermon on the Mount. This we cannot do! It demands your supernatural transforming power.
You say, Lord Jesus, that holy righteousness will not murder. But you add, it also will not yield fleshly anger.
Father, as we face contention, impart supernatural peace that flows from the knowledge that our security, rights, and position are determined and upheld through Christ alone and cannot be threatened or thwarted by others; your peace displaces our anger.
You say, Lord Jesus, that holy righteousness does not commit adultery. But you add, it must not lust. Give us supernatural love for all people created in your image, displacing lust, and rendering respect.
You say, Lord Jesus, that holy righteousness would certainly follow the legal provisions for divorce. But you add that true righteousness would make every effort to maintain this lifetime covenant commitment with a loving hope for the marriage. Bless us with righteousness that yields a selfless, hopeful perspective that persistent Christ-centered love will win the heart of one’s spouse.
You say Lord Jesus that holy righteousness keeps one’s oaths. But, you add, it also treats all commitments as oaths. Supernaturally pour out on us respect for others and a spirit of integrity to uphold the importance of one’s word thus creating trust and pointing our spouse to Christ.
You say Lord Jesus that holy righteousness does not take revenge when wronged. But, you add, the command for us is to look for opportunities to return good for evil. Once again, as we find our hope and identity fully in you Lord Jesus, supernaturally rescue us from a revengeful attitude and proclaim the love of Christ through us by creatively returning good for evil.
You say Lord Jesus that holy righteousness loves one’s neighbor. But, you add, holy righteousness should expect us to love those who are our enemies and persecute us. May we supernaturally love our neighbor with an eternally driven love and, even more, may we with resolve be intentional and effective at loving our enemies.
Father, we know that this list only shares a glimpse of Christ-centered attributes derived when walking by faith and empowered by your Spirit. Like a parched deer, may we thirst for you and the overflow of your goodness, mercy, and purity; these attributes are only found in utter dependence upon Christ alone. Like newborn babes, may we long with insatiable appetites for you. Through your Living Word, may we experience the supernatural transformation through the power of the Holy Spirit. May we press on toward the goal to win the prize for which you have called us heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Lord Jesus, we invite you to continue your supernatural sanctification in our lives, anointing us with your mind, heart, and power that we might be blessed to see life from your eternal perspective, see others through your loving eyes, and experience supernatural power found through Christ’s presence yielding holy righteousness in us.
In Christ,
Blessings!
Matthew 5:6
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
I Peter 2:2
2 Like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.
Psalm 42:1
1 As the deer pants for water, so I long for you, O God. 2 I thirst for God, the living God.
Philippians 3:9
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.
Philippians 3:12- 14
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.