One: Praying With Jesus That the World May BelieveSample

If God is infinitely righteous, holy, and pure, He must be infinitely opposed to all sin, which must be demonstrated in His treatment of His creation.

But He has demonstrated infinite forgiveness, justice, salvation, and righteousness through sending Jesus to the world.

In the beginning, God gave Adam and Eve the chance to live with Him in righteousness. When they could not, He forgave them - not through their death but through new life.

The community of Israel cyclically swayed between righteousness and sin; God consistently brought them back home with righteous instruction and renewed forgiveness.

The disciples and The Church have experienced no less cyclical rotations between sin and righteousness.

In return, God asks those who experience His righteousness to be an example to the nations, Jews and Gentiles, and the whole world.

Jesus told His disciples to go into the world with the gospel message of righteousness on many occasions.

God’s mission has not changed for us.

God’s righteousness to us requires us to bring righteousness to our neighbors, community, and world.

When you have experienced God’s forgiveness, an action that comes from His righteousness, you long for others to experience it.

Just as God sent Jesus, we are also sent to demonstrate righteousness, justice, and holiness in our community.

Through The YMCA, we embody righteousness and justice to our community by loving, caring, and serving our members as the hands and heart of Jesus.

This can be as simple as raking leaves for our older neighbors, offering diverse educational training, developing teenagers into Christian leaders, picking up trash along our trails, and more!

Where can you offer righteousness to another?

• Can you tell someone sorry and bring reconciliation to a relationship?
• Is there a neighbor that could use a helping hand on their home?
• Do you know a teenager that you could invite over for weekly dinners?
• Is there a group in your community that needs someone to stand up for them?

Today, ask the God of Righteousness to show you where he is calling you to bring righteousness to your neighbors.

Pray with me:

“Righteous Father, thank you for your righteous action of forgiveness to me and all your creation. Help me to see where I can live out righteousness in my neighborhood, community, and world.”

[by Pastor Amanda Daniel at Whitley County Family YMCA].