"The Righteousness of Jesus"

  Jesus is the exact representation of God's nature in every way (Heb. 1:3). Jesus is all about righteousness and truth. We aren't that way. Many times we think we do some good deeds, help some people along and that's righteousness. What we fail to see is that the lost can do good deeds and help others along. The righteousness of Jesus Christ the Lord calls us upward into Himself that we might become conformed to His nature in every way.

  Jesus calls us to go the extra mile with someone. We don't like to do that. We feel as if we have gone far enough already and we complain if we are called to go further. That's not the righteousness of Jesus.

  Jesus calls us never to murder! We grasp that one quickly. Or do we? We are told that to hate our brother is the same as a murderer (I John 3:15). We start to soft peddle! We really don't hate them and we justify ourselves. We take a bad attitude toward the one we claim we don't hate, we just rather not talk to them. The righteousness of Jesus doesn't do that or call us to do that. Jesus exposes our motives.

  Jesus our Lord calls us not to speak evil against one another. Yet here we go, spreading things that would cause others harm and calling it defending the truth. How close is that to the righteousness of Jesus? How close is that to His truth?

  Jesus calls each of us to Himself. He calls us into His righteousness and holiness. Jesus sets that standard of righteousness and holiness, not us. Jesus isn't about making our lives easier but making our lives reflect His life. Jesus is trying to make our lives LIVE! What He calls us to is completely opposite of what we as humans think. The Lord calls us away from our education, our politics and culture to pursue His righteousness. Jesus calls us to Himself and away from ourselves!