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Frequent Human Urges
Righteousness is the nature of God; He is the perfect benchmark for it. The true definition of righteousness is to live according to God's standards, an attribute only accessible through faith in Jesus. It is Jesus' desire for humanity to be in right standing with God, but He calls out pretenses and shallow interpretations of righteousness practiced in the name of religion. While humanity has always tried in futility to attain high moral standards through deeds and ceremonies, Jesus, through his life, death, and resurrection, gives us the means to live uprightly and in alignment with God.
Building an appetite for righteousness helps us discover His standards for us. It is our responsibility, however, to not merely rely on good deeds, but to build and mature our faith in Jesus, creating more room for God's righteousness in our lives. Constant hunger and thirst for righteousness must set us in a glorious pursuit of knowing God's heart and His ways. We progress in our journey as Christ-followers when we pursue the person of Jesus Christ and not just the works, miracles, or breakthroughs. We do this by studying the word of God. The more consistent we are with knowing God's word, the more we build our faith. The more our faith is built, the better stewards we become for the gift of righteousness that we have received from God. The better our understanding and revelation of this righteousness, the more we flourish. Setting these goals and staying focused also helps us resist the urges that may consume us and derail our journey with God. A flourishing life is, after all, the outcome of determined and patient consistency.
Reflections
How can we build an appetite for righteousness? How do we avoid self-righteousness and instead hunger and thirst for righteousness according to God’s standards?
What do you do to ensure that your faith is constantly growing?
How can we pursue the person of Jesus Christ?
Take Home Message
There is only One Being who can satisfy the last aching abyss of the human heart and that is Jesus Christ.
About this Plan
God wants you and me to flourish and not merely exist. Although “flourishing” means to grow and develop in a favorable environment, the biblical context of this verb is more correctly interpretable as “Shalom,” a right relationship with God and each other. We are called to thrive even in harsh life-situations and overcome “vision-killers” that may stunt our growth. Let’s explore what this promise means in God’s word.
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