See

Job 19:26 (amidst his trials, Job says:)

Even after my skin has been destroyed,
       in my flesh I will see God.

Matthew 5:8

They are blessed whose thoughts are pure,
       for they will see God. 

Matthew 13:10-17  Why Jesus Used Stories to Teach

The followers came to Jesus and asked, "Why do you use stories to teach the people?"

Jesus answered, "You have been chosen to know the secrets about the kingdom of heaven, but others cannot know these secrets.  Those who have understanding will be given more, and they will have all they need. But those who do not have understanding, even what they have will be taken away from them.  This is why I use stories to teach the people: They see, but they don't really see. They hear, but they don't really hear or understand.  So they show that the things Isaiah said about them are true:
    'You will listen and listen, but you will not understand.
       You will look and look, but you will not learn.
    For the minds of these people have become stubborn.
       They do not hear with their ears,
       and they have closed their eyes.
    Otherwise they might really understand
       what they see with their eyes
       and hear with their ears.
    They might really understand in their minds
       and come back to me and be healed.' — Isaiah 6:9–10
But you are blessed, because you see with your eyes and hear with your ears.  I tell you the truth, many prophets and good people wanted to see the things that you now see, but they did not see them. And they wanted to hear the things that you now hear, but they did not hear them.

Revelation 22:4

They will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads.

Fasting

Isaiah 58:4-5

On these special days when you fast, you argue and fight
       and hit each other with your fists.
    You cannot do these things as you do now
       and believe your prayers are heard in heaven.

This kind of special day is not what I want.
       This is not the way I want people to be sorry for what they have done.
    I don't want people just to bow their heads like a plant
       and wear rough cloth and lie in ashes to show their sadness.
    This is what you do on your special days when you fast,
       but do you think this is what the Lord wants?

Zechariah 7:5

"Tell the priests and the people in the land: 'For seventy years you fasted and cried in the fifth and seventh months, but that was not really for me.”

Matthew 4:2

Then the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the devil.   Jesus fasted for forty days and nights. After this, he was very hungry.  The devil came to Jesus to tempt him, saying, "If you are the Son of God, tell these rocks to become bread."  Jesus answered, "It is written in the Scriptures, 'A person lives not on bread alone, but by everything God says.'"

Matthew 6:16

"When you fast, don't put on a sad face like the hypocrites.  They make their faces look sad to show people they are fasting.  I tell you the truth, those hypocrites already have their full reward.   So when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face.  Then people will not know that you are fasting, but your Father, whom you cannot see, will see you. Your Father sees what is done in secret, and he will reward you.”

Matthew 9:14

Then the followers of John came to Jesus and said, "Why do we and the Pharisees often fast for a certain time, but your followers don't?"  Jesus answered, "The friends of the bridegroom are not sad while he is with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then they will fast.”

Matthew 17:14-21 (again)

When Jesus and his followers came back to the crowd, a man came to Jesus and bowed before him.  The man said, "Lord, have mercy on my son. He has epilepsy and is suffering very much, because he often falls into the fire or into the water.  I brought him to your followers, but they could not cure him."

Jesus answered, "You people have no faith, and your lives are all wrong. How long must I put up with you?  How long must I continue to be patient with you?  Bring the boy here."  Jesus commanded the demon inside the boy.  Then the demon came out, and the boy was healed from that time on.

The followers came to Jesus when he was alone and asked, "Why couldn't we force the demon out?"

Jesus answered, "Because your faith is too small.  I tell you the truth, if your faith is as big as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move.  All things will be possible for you.  [That kind of spirit comes out only if you use prayer and fasting.]"

Luke 18:9-14

Jesus told this story to some people who thought they were very good and looked down on everyone else:  "A Pharisee and a tax collector both went to the Temple to pray.  The Pharisee stood alone and prayed, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people who steal, cheat, or take part in adultery, or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week, and I give one-tenth of everything I get!'

"The tax collector, standing at a distance, would not even look up to heaven.  But he beat on his chest because he was so sad.  He said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'  I tell you, when this man went home, he was right with God, but the Pharisee was not.  All who make themselves great will be made humble, but all who make themselves humble will be made great."

1 Corinthians 7:4-5 (goes with prayer, but applies here also)

The wife does not have full rights over her own body; her husband shares them.  And the husband does not have full rights over his own body; his wife shares them.  Do not refuse to give your bodies to each other, unless you both agree to stay away from sexual relations for a time so you can give your time to prayer.  Then come together again so Satan cannot tempt you because of a lack of self-control.

2 Corinthians 6:5-7 (We will face hardships and persecution, just like Paul &  the Corinthians!)

We are beaten and thrown into prison. We meet those who become upset with us and start riots. We work hard, and sometimes we get no sleep or food.  We show we are servants of God by our pure lives, our understanding, patience, and kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by true love, by speaking the truth, and by God's power.  We use our right living to defend ourselves against everything.

Prayer

Psalm 42:8

The Lord shows his true love every day.
       At night I have a song,
       and I pray to my living God.

Psalm 102:17

He will answer the prayers of the needy;
       he will not reject their prayers.

Proverbs 15:8

The Lord hates the sacrifice that the wicked offer,
       but he likes the prayers of honest people.

Matthew 17:20-21

Jesus answered, "Because your faith is too small. I tell you the truth, if your faith is as big as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. All things will be possible for you. [That kind of spirit comes out only if you use prayer and fasting.]"

Romans 12:12

Be joyful because you have hope. Be patient when trouble comes, and pray at all times.

Ephesians 6:18

Pray in the Spirit at all times with all kinds of prayers, asking for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready and never give up. Always pray for all God's people.

Philippians 4:6

Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks.

1 Timothy 4:4-5

Everything God made is good, and nothing should be refused if it is accepted with thanks, because it is made holy by what God has said and by prayer.

James 5:15

And the prayer that is said with faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will heal that person. And if the person has sinned, the sins will be forgiven.

Joy

Verses about being joyful:

Psalm 16:11

You will teach me how to live a holy life.
       Being with you will fill me with joy;
       at your right hand I will find pleasure forever.

Psalm 30:5

His anger lasts only a moment,
       but his kindness lasts for a lifetime.
    Crying may last for a night,
       but joy comes in the morning.

Isaiah 12:3

You will receive your salvation with joy
       as you would draw water from a well.

Isaiah 61:3

and to help the sorrowing people of Jerusalem.
    I will give them a crown to replace their ashes,
       and the oil of gladness to replace their sorrow,
       and clothes of praise to replace their spirit of sadness.
    Then they will be called Trees of Goodness,
       trees planted by the Lord to show his greatness.

Isaiah 65:14

My servants will shout for joy
       because of the goodness of their hearts,
    but you evil people will cry,
       because you will be sad.
       You will cry loudly, because your spirits will be broken.

Matthew 25:21

The master answered, 'You did well. You are a good and loyal servant. Because you were loyal with small things, I will let you care for much greater things. Come and share my joy with me.'

Luke 1:44

When I heard your voice, the baby inside me jumped with joy.

Luke 15:7

In the same way, I tell you there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who changes his heart and life, than over ninety-nine good people who don't need to change.

Luke 24:41

While they still could not believe it because they were amazed and happy, Jesus said to them, "Do you have any food here?"

John 15:11

I have told you these things so that you can have the same joy I have and so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy.

John 17:13

"I am coming to you now. But I pray these things while I am still in the world so that these followers can have all of my joy in them.”

Galatians 5:22-23

But the Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law that says these things are wrong.

1 Thessalonians 2:20

Truly you are our glory and our joy.

Hebrews 12:2

Let us look only to Jesus, the One who began our faith and who makes it perfect. He suffered death on the cross. But he accepted the shame as if it were nothing because of the joy that God put before him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God's throne.

James 1:2

My brothers and sisters, when you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience.

1 Peter 4:13

But be happy that you are sharing in Christ's sufferings so that you will be happy and full of joy when Christ comes again in glory.

Behavior

Romans 12:9-21 (NCV)
Your love must be real.  Hate what is evil, and hold on to what is good.  Love each other like brothers and sisters.  Give each other more honor than you want for yourselves.  Do not be lazy but work hard, serving the Lord with all your heart.  Be joyful because you have hope.  Be patient when trouble comes, and pray at all times.  Share with God's people who need help.  Bring strangers in need into your homes.
Wish good for those who harm you; wish them well and do not curse them.  Be happy with those who are happy, and be sad with those who are sad.  Live in peace with each other.  Do not be proud, but make friends with those who seem unimportant.  Do not think how smart you are.
If someone does wrong to you, do not pay him back by doing wrong to him.  Try to do what everyone thinks is right.  Do your best to live in peace with everyone.  My friends,  do not try to punish others when they wrong you, but wait for God to punish them with his anger.  It is written: "I will punish those who do wrong; I will repay them," says the Lord.  But you should do this:
  "If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
  if he is thirsty, give him a drink.
  Doing this will be like pouring burning coals on his head."
Do not let evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good.



1 Timothy 3:2 NCV
An overseer must not give people a reason to criticize him, and he must have only one wife.  He must be self-controlled, wise, respected by others, ready to welcome guests, and able to teach.

Alive

Here are verses related to God being alive and our (new!) life in Him:

Genesis 2:7 NCV

"Then the Lord God took dust from the ground and formed a man from it. He breathed the breath of life into the man's nose, and the man became a living person."

Leviticus 17:11 NCV

"This is because the life of the body is in the blood, and I have given you rules for pouring that blood on the altar to remove your sins so you will belong to the Lord. It is the blood that removes the sins, because it is life."

Deuteronomy 30:15-16 NKJV

"See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess."

Deuteronomy 32:39 NCV

"Now you will see that I am the one God!

There is no god but me.

I send life and death;

I can hurt, and I can heal.

No one can escape from me."

Psalm 72:14 NCV

"He will save them from cruel people who try to hurt them,

because their lives are precious to him."

Psalm 119:50 NCV

"When I suffer, this comforts me:

Your promise gives me life."

Proverbs 3:18 NCV

"As a tree produces fruit, wisdom gives life to those who use it,

and everyone who uses it will be happy."

Proverbs 8:35 NCV

"Those who find me find life,

and the Lord will be pleased with them."

Luke 12:23-24 NCV

"Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes.  Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest, they don't have storerooms or barns, but God feeds them.  And you are worth much more than birds."

John 1:4 NCV

"In Him there was life, and that life was the light of all people."

John 5:21 NCV

"Just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to those He wants to."

John 6:63 NCV

"It is the Spirit that gives life. The flesh doesn't give life. The words I told you are spirit, and they give life."

John 8:12 NCV

"Later, Jesus talked to the people again, saying, 'I am the light of the world. The person who follows Me will never live in darkness but will have the light that gives life.'"

John 10:15 NCV

"just as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. I give my life for the sheep."

John 11:25 NCV

"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will have life even if they die.'"

Acts 1:3 NCV

After His death, He showed Himself to them and proved in many ways that He was alive.  The apostles saw Jesus during the forty days after He was raised from the dead, and He spoke to them about the kingdom of God."

Romans 6:11 NCV

"In the same way, you should see yourselves as being dead to the power of sin and alive with God through Christ Jesus."

1 Corinthians 15:22 NCV

"In Adam all of us die.  In the same way, in Christ all of us will be made alive again."

Galatians 2:20 NCV

"I was put to death on the cross with Christ, and I do not live anymore—it is Christ who lives in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself to save me."

Colossians 3:3 NCV

"Your old sinful self has died, and your new life is kept with Christ in God."

James 4:14 NCV

"But you do not know what will happen tomorrow! Your life is like a mist. You can see it for a short time, but then it goes away."

1 John 1:2 NCV

"He who gives life was shown to us. We saw him and can give proof about it. And now we announce to you that he has life that continues forever. He was with God the Father and was shown to us."

1 John 2:16  NCV

"These are the ways of the world: wanting to please our sinful selves, wanting the sinful things we see, and being too proud of what we have. None of these come from the Father, but all of them come from the world."

1 John 5:11 NCV

"This is what God told us: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."

Revelations 1:18 NCV

"I am the One who lives; I was dead, but look, I am alive forever and ever!  And I hold the keys to death and to the place of the dead."

Revelation 22:17 NCV

"The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' Let the one who hears this say, 'Come!' Let whoever is thirsty come; whoever wishes may have the water of life as a free gift."

Songs

This morning I had K-LOVE Radio (http://www.klove.com/) on while I was cleaning, and it is incredible how much it improves chore time.  :)  I wanted to look closer at the lyrics of some of these songs, so here that goes:

Let It Fade

by Jeremy Camp

Have you been walking on a surface that's uncertain?

Have you helped yourself to everything that's empty?

You can't live this way too long.

There's more than this, more than this.

Have you been standing on your own feet too long?

Have you been looking for a place where you belong?

You can rest, you will find rest.

You can rest, you will find rest.

Let this old life crumble, let it fade.

Let this new life offered be your saving grace.

Let this old life crumble, let it fade, let it fade.

Have you been holding on to what this world has offered?

Have you been giving in to all these masquerades?

It will be gone, forever gone.

It will be gone, it will be gone

Let this old life crumble, let it fade.

Let this new life offered be your saving grace.

Let this old life crumble, let it fade, let it fade.

Let it fade.

Are you carrying the weight too much?, are you running from the call?

Let it fade, Oh yeah.

You can rest, you will find rest.

You can rest you will find rest.

Let this old life crumble, let it fade.

Let this new life offered be your saving grace.

Let this old life crumble, let it fade, let it fade.

Let this old life crumble, let it fade.

Have you been standing on your own feet too long?

Have you been looking for a place where you belong?

Restless

by Switchfoot

I am the sea on a moonless night,

Calling, falling, slipping tides

I am the leaky, dripping pipes

The endless aching drops of light

I am the raindrop falling down,

Always longing for the deeper ground

I am the broken, breaking seas

Even my blood finds ways to bleed

Even the rivers ways to run

Even the rain to reach the sun

Even my thirsty streams,

Even in my dreams

I am restless, I am restless

I am restless, looking for you

I am restless, I run like the ocean to find your shore

I’m looking for you

I am the one that you left behind,

I am the thorn stuck in your side

I am the bored and clouded eyes

Looking for the well that won’t run dry

Running hard for the other side

The world that I’ve always been denied

Running hard for the infinite

With the tears of the saints and hypocrites

Oh blood of black and white and gray

Death and life and night and day

One by one by one

We let our rivers run

I am restless, I am restless

I am restless, looking for you

I am restless, I run like the ocean to find your shore

I’m looking for you

Cause I can’t feel you breathing,

I can’t feel you reaching

Pushing through the ceiling

Making for the feeling

More than just a feeling

Pushing through the ceiling

Until the final healing

Looking for you

Until the sea of glass we meet

At last completed and complete

The tide of tear and pain subside

Laughter drinks them dry

I’ll be waiting

Anticipating

All that I aim for

What I was made for

With every heartbeat

All of my blood bleeds

Running inside me

Looking for you

Looking for you

I am restless, I am restless

I am restless, looking for you

I am restless, I run like the ocean to find your shore

I’m looking for you

Our God

by Chris Tomlin

Water you turned into wine, opened the eyes of the blind there's no one like you none like You!

Into the darkness you shine out of the ashes we rise there's no one like you none like You!

Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.

Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!

Into the darkness you shine out of the ashes we rise there's no one like you none like You!

Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.

Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!

Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.

Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!

And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.

And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.

And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.

And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.

What could stand against.

Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.

Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!

Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.

Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!

And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.

And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.

And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.

And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.

Then what could stand against.

Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.

Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!

Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.

Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!

Listen to the Sound

by Building 429

Are you in over your head
Are you in water so deep you're drowning
Do you think you've been left
And there is no one to feel your hurting

Well, everybody has been there
And everybody's felt lost
If you're in over your head
Lift it up, lift it up

Oh, listen to the sound of hope that's rising
Up over your horizon
Listen to the sound, listen to the sound
And listen to the sound of a new beginning
Oh, this is where the old is ending
Listen to the sound, listen to the sound

I hear you say you're alone
I hear you saying that you'll never make it
I've got to tell you you're wrong
‘Cause I have been down this path you're taking
You never know what faith is
‘Til you don't understand
Sometimes it takes a silence
To finally hear His plan

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
I once was lost, but now I'm found

His Grace is reaching for us
His Grace is reaching out
Listen to the sound, listen to the sound
Wherever you are

Strong Enough

By Matthew West

You must, You must think I’m strong
To give me what I’m going through
Well forgive me, forgive me if I’m wrong
But this looks like more than I can do
On my own

I know I’m not strong enough to be
Everything that I’m supposed to be
I give up, I’m not strong enough
Hands of mercy won’t You cover me?
Lord, right now I’m asking You to be
Strong enough, strong enough
For the both of us 

Well maybe, maybe that’s the point
To reach the point of giving up
‘Cause when I’m finally, finally at rock bottom
Well that’s when I start looking up
And reaching out

‘Cause I’m broken
Down to nothing
But I’m still holding on to the one thing

You are God
And You are strong when I am weak
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength
And I don’t have to be strong enough

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength
And I don’t have to be
Strong enough, strong enough

Plans

God's got the whole world in His hands!

Psalm 33:10-15 NCV
"The Lord upsets the plans of nations;
He ruins all their plans.
But the Lord's plans will stand forever;
His ideas will last from now on.
Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people He chose for His very own.
The Lord looks down from heaven
and sees every person.
From His throne He watches
all who live on earth.
He made their hearts
and understands everything they do."

Proverbs 6:16-19
"There are six things the Lord hates.
There are seven things He cannot stand:
a proud look,
a lying tongue,
hands that kill innocent people,
a mind that thinks up evil plans,
feet that are quick to do evil,
a witness who lies,
and someone who starts arguments among families."

NKJV Bible Commentary: Proverbs 6:16-19: "In a list of this type, the last item is the most prominent.  Thus, the reader knows that causing discord among brethren (see v. 14) causes God's greatest disapproval.  Contrast the blessing of God on brothers who live together in peace (Ps. 133:1)."

Proverbs 6:14 NKJV The Wicked Man "Perversity is in his heart, he devises evil continually, He sows discord."

Psalm 133:1 NCV
"It is good and pleasant
when God's people live together in peace!"

NKJV Bible Commentary: Psalm 133: "one of four songs of ascent attributed to David (see Ps. 122; 124; 131).  With its emphasis on the unity of the believers, this poem anticipates Jesus' prayer in John 17."

John 17 NKJV
"Jesus Prays for Himself
Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: 'Father, the hour has come.  Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.  And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.  I have glorified You on the earth.  I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.  And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
Jesus Prays for His Disciples
I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world.  They were Yours, You have them to Me, and they have kept Your word.
Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You.  For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.
I pray for them.  I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.  And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them.  Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You, Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.  While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name.  Those whom You gave Me I have kept, and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.  But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.  I have given them Your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.  I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.  Sanctify them by Your truth.  Your word is truth.  As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.  And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
Jesus Prays for All Believers
I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.  And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.  O righteous Father!  The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.  And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."

Righteousness Continued

New Testament verses related to "righteousness":

Matthew 3:15

But Jesus replied to him, Permit it just now; for this is the fitting way for [both of] us to fulfill all righteousness [that is, to perform completely whatever is right]. Then he permitted Him.

Matthew 5:20

For I tell you, unless your righteousness (your uprightness and your right standing with God) is more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 21:32

For John came to you walking in the way of an upright man in right standing with God, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the harlots did believe him; and you, even when you saw that, did not afterward change your minds and believe him [adhere to, trust in, and rely on what he told you].

Romans 1:17

For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith.

Romans 3:22-23

Namely, the righteousness of God which comes by believing with personal trust and confident reliance on Jesus Christ (the Messiah). [And it is meant] for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives.

Romans 4:22

That is why his faith was credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God).

Romans 5:17

For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive [God's] overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

Romans 5:21

So that, [just] as sin has reigned in death, [so] grace (His unearned and undeserved favor) might reign also through righteousness (right standing with God) which issues in eternal life through Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) our Lord.

Romans 10:3

For being ignorant of the righteousness that God ascribes [which makes one acceptable to Him in word, thought, and deed] and seeking to establish a righteousness (a means of salvation) of their own, they did not obey or submit themselves to God's righteousness.

2 Corinthians 5:21

For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].

Ephesians 6:14

Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,

Philippians 3:9

And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law's demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith.

Titus 3:5-6

He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity and mercy, by [the] cleansing [bath] of the new birth (regeneration) and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which He poured out [so] richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.

James 1:20

For man's anger does not promote the righteousness God [wishes and requires].

2 Peter 2:5

And He spared not the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven other persons, when He brought a flood upon the world of ungodly [people].

2 Peter 3:13

But we look for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise, in which righteousness (uprightness, freedom from sin, and right standing with God) is to abide.

1 John 2:29

If you know (perceive and are sure) that He [Christ] is [absolutely] righteous [conforming to the Father's will in purpose, thought, and action], you may also know (be sure) that everyone who does righteously [and is therefore in like manner conformed to the divine will] is born (begotten) of Him [God].

1 John 3:7

Boys (lads), let no one deceive and lead you astray. He who practices righteousness [who is upright, conforming to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action, living a consistently conscientious life] is righteous, even as He is righteous.

These seem to give us a great example of definitions of "righteousness."

What words do you think of now when you hear "righteousness?"

Righteousness

What does righteousness look like?  Here are the Old Testament verses about this topic in the Amplified Bible Translation to give a fuller picture:


Genesis 15:6
     And he [Abram] believed in (trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to) the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness (right standing with God).


Job 29:14
     I put on righteousness, and it clothed me or clothed itself with me; my justice was like a robe and a turban or a diadem or a crown!


Psalm 4:1
     Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness (uprightness, justice, and right standing with You)! You have freed me when I was hemmed in and enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me and hear my prayer.


Psalm 24:5
     He shall receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.


Psalm 35:28
     And my tongue shall talk of Your righteousness, rightness, and justice, and of [my reasons for] Your praise all the day long.


Psalm 40:9
     I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great assembly [tidings of uprightness and right standing with God]. Behold, I have not restrained my lips, as You know, O Lord.


Psalm 50:6
     And the heavens declare His righteousness (rightness and justice), for God, He is judge. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!


Psalm 85:10, 13
     Mercy and loving-kindness and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.  Righteousness shall go before Him and shall make His footsteps a way in which to walk.


Psalm 111:3
     His work is honorable and glorious, and His righteousness endures forever.


Proverbs 10:2
     Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation) delivers from death.


Proverbs 11:5
     The righteousness of the blameless shall rectify and make plain their way and keep it straight, but the wicked shall fall by their own wickedness.


Proverbs 12:28
     Life is in the way of righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation), and in its pathway there is no death but immortality (perpetual, eternal life).


Proverbs 14:34
     Uprightness and right standing with God (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation) elevate a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.


Proverbs 21:21
     He who earnestly seeks after and craves righteousness, mercy, and loving-kindness will find life in addition to righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) and honor.


Isaiah 1:21
     How the faithful city has become an [idolatrous] harlot, she who was full of justice! Uprightness and right standing with God [once] lodged in her--but now murderers.


Isaiah 45:24
     Only in the Lord shall one say, I have righteousness (salvation and victory) and strength [to achieve]. To Him shall all come who were incensed against Him, and they shall be ashamed.


Isaiah 51:8
     For [in comparison with the Lord they are so weak that things as insignificant as] the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool. But My rightness and justice [and faithfully fulfilled promise] shall be forever, and My salvation to all generations.


Isaiah 57:12
     I will expose your [pretended] righteousness and your doings, but they will not help you.


Isaiah 59:17
     For [the Lord] put on righteousness as a breastplate or coat of mail, and salvation as a helmet upon His head; He put on garments of vengeance for clothing and was clad with zeal [and furious divine jealousy] as a cloak.


Isaiah 62:1
     For Zion's sake will I [Isaiah] not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest until her imputed righteousness and vindication go forth as brightness, and her salvation radiates as does a burning torch.


Jeremiah 23:6
     In His days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His name by which He shall be called: The Lord Our Righteousness.


Jeremiah 33:15
     In those days and at that time will I cause a righteous Branch [the Messiah] to grow up to David; and He shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.


Ezekial 18:20
     The soul that sins, it [is the one that] shall die. The son shall not bear and be punished for the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear and be punished for the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him only, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon the wicked only.


Daniel 12:3
     And the teachers and those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness (to uprightness and right standing with God) [shall give forth light] like the stars forever and ever.


More to come tomorrow.

His Plan

Ephesians 1:3-14 NKJV "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him.  In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things together to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory."

This was noted in Pastor Mark's sermon yesterday morning, and it is packed with God's plan.  Our love, noted in verses 4 and 5, comes from our own will to follow, fear, and trust in God.  Jesus Christ's blood was shed (verse 7) to redeem us...to forgive us for our sins when we ask Him to enter our life.  This is His salvation plan (verse 10).  Verse 13 talks about the Holy Spirit in us, our guidance for day to day life in this world.  Praise God, that we are His possession (verse 14).

This is my prayer:

Ephesians 1:15-23 NKJV "Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all."

Praying Scripture can do incredible things.  I want to do more of that in my life.



Another verse I just found encouraging:
Malachi 2:15 NCV "God made husbands and wives to become one body and one spirit for his purpose--so they would have children who are true to God.  So be careful, and do not break your promise to the wife you married when you were young."

I love being one with Cade in Him.  I want to fulfill His purpose for us.