He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation (Ps. 24:4, 5).
How a person lives is important. Notice--clean hands, pure heart, no foolish pride, no deceit, but truthfulness. The blessing of God will be on such a person.
But from whence do all these virtues come? Certainly not from the person's own heart. The answer is in the last phrase, "righteousness from the God of his salvation."
Righteousness by faith is the only righteousness a believer can have. It comes from God and is "by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all than that believe" (Rom. 3:22).
"The righteousness by which we are justified is imputed; the righteousness by which we are sanctified is imparted. The first is our title to heaven, the second is our fitness for heaven" (Ellen G. White, in Review and Herald, June 4, 1895).
If one makes a profession of salvation but still lives the same old life of sin and defeat, their profession is worthless. "By their fruits ye shall know them" (Matt. 7:20). This is the old orchard test and the only true test. Righteousness in the heart will be revealed as righteousness in the outward life--clean living, pure thinking, simplicity, humbleness of spirit, truthfulness. On those who have these graces, the blessing of God descends and dwells.
It is for us to live out the life that God lives in us. When asked how long it took him to paint a certain picture, Joshua Reynolds replied, "All my life." We are all painters with the colors God gives us. May we always use them to His glory.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord" (Ps. 118:19).
How a person lives is important. Notice--clean hands, pure heart, no foolish pride, no deceit, but truthfulness. The blessing of God will be on such a person.
But from whence do all these virtues come? Certainly not from the person's own heart. The answer is in the last phrase, "righteousness from the God of his salvation."
Righteousness by faith is the only righteousness a believer can have. It comes from God and is "by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all than that believe" (Rom. 3:22).
"The righteousness by which we are justified is imputed; the righteousness by which we are sanctified is imparted. The first is our title to heaven, the second is our fitness for heaven" (Ellen G. White, in Review and Herald, June 4, 1895).
If one makes a profession of salvation but still lives the same old life of sin and defeat, their profession is worthless. "By their fruits ye shall know them" (Matt. 7:20). This is the old orchard test and the only true test. Righteousness in the heart will be revealed as righteousness in the outward life--clean living, pure thinking, simplicity, humbleness of spirit, truthfulness. On those who have these graces, the blessing of God descends and dwells.
It is for us to live out the life that God lives in us. When asked how long it took him to paint a certain picture, Joshua Reynolds replied, "All my life." We are all painters with the colors God gives us. May we always use them to His glory.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord" (Ps. 118:19).
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