12 Steps To Heaven: #2, Work Righteousness

Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
Who may dwell in Your holy hill?

He who walks uprightly,
And works righteousness…

Psalm 15:1-2 (NKJV)

Check out some synonyms of righteousness:*

  • Virtue

  • Justice

  • Honor

  • Equity,

  • Integrity

  • Goodness

  • Morality

  • Honesty

  • Purity

  • Faithfulness.

How many people can describe their work in these unmistakably godly terms? Only One mastered Step 2: Jesus Christ! Only He can help us climb this steep step.**

He also completes our “work” the same way: We do our best, and Jesus does the rest. In this Promise, Paul encourages us:

  • 'Being confident of this very thing, that He Who has begun a good work in you will complete it' (Philippians 1:6).

On the other hand (not God's Righteous Right Hand), many churchgoers debate salvation: Isn’t it guaranteed by faith alone? Or do our works prove it? Should we have both? I believe James gives a clear-cut answer:

  • 'Someone will say, 'You have faith, and I have works.' Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?' (James 2:18-20).

Here's how I see it:

When seasoned Christians, excepting new or baby believers, say they have faith… WITHOUT visible works (proof) in the world (where believers are called to rise and shine)…

They’re trees without fruit. The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree reveals a dire fate for fruitless workers.***

Because…

We’re called to offer food to the starving.

  • 'Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good' (Psalm 34:8). 

  • ‘For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them' (Ephesians 2:10).

Actors, models, and talent for Christ:

Your best work isn’t on your resume. Those jobs are just set-ups for your real work: the offering of righteous behavior—like 'Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control' (Galatians 5:22-23). It's also called fruit.

Therefore:

In every Zoom room, sound stage, rehearsal, company, restaurant, school, store, or home--offer the tired, sick, lonely, or hopeless God’s life-saving spiritual food. Therein, you work the righteousness of God.

'Now may the God of peace Who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the Blood of the everlasting Covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His Sight, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory forever and ever' (Hebrews 13:20-21).

12 Steps To Heaven: #2, Work RIghteousness (Part 4)

* Thesaurus

** The righteousness of Christ covers those who believe: http://www.gotquestions.org/imputed-righteousness.html

*** The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+13%3A6-9&version=NKJV

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players. Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings. Parts of this series are edits of a prior Carey Lewis Devotion series, first published in 2014.

Carey Arban