From a Heart of Love
Having been hanging out in Proverbs lately, it’s hard not to get fixated on the word righteous. In our culture, it’s a word that can have more negative connotations than positive. Who likes a self-righteous person? In a biblical context, it takes a different turn and usually makes people feel inadequate or super churchy.For me, however, the word conjures up the image of Clyde Cranford. Clyde was the gentleman who discipled my husband. He was affectionately called “The Bomber” because he would always ask deep, penetrating questions that revealed your true heart on any given matter. I was discipled vicariously through Chris, so I didn’t have the tough questions directed at me. But I did benefit from his deep, abiding love in the Lord.Clyde would hardly ever say the word righteous without following it with the definition: obeying from a heart of love. To me, that says it all. Righteousness should be the longing of every single one of us. Can you imagine, when each decision comes your way, you not only making the choice that honors God, but doing so with a heart of love?For a moment, apply the idea to children. I often ask my son or daughter to do a simple task such as empty the dishwasher. The end result will be the dishes being put back in their place. The experience, however, is radically different depending on whether I have to beg or threaten to get the desired result, or if they cheerfully pitch in and have a sweet attitude. I just want to gush with how much I love them when they willingly obey! Regardless of a child’s age, there is something that resonates inside a parent when they see a desire to do what is right.My thoughts on righteousness were recently rekindled when I read Proverbs 10:30, “The righteous will never be shaken, but the wicked will not dwell in the land.” In my journal, I probably have 30 other blessings that come from righteousness. What God promises to those who obey Him from a heart of love is everything that we desire and seek after… hope, gladness, wisdom, protection, deliverance from trouble, our prayers being heard. If all those were not enough, the Lord says through Solomon that we will never be shaken. Can you imagine?I challenge you to not overlook this one word, nor to steer clear of it in fear. Instead, would you ask the Lord to give you the grace to increase in righteousness? Make it specific and real. Where are you disobeying right now? Where are you doing the right thing but gritting your teeth in resistance? I can be guilty of starting out obeying from a heart of love, but without realizing it, the heart of love disappears. Is there somewhere your heart of love has grown cold, too? Is there a place you started serving with joy, but now you bring more tension than blessing while you complete your commitment?Righteousness will not remove all the evil that exists in this world, but to know that God will protect us from being shaken is a comfort I need. May we each pursue obeying from a heart of love, so that we, too, will never be shaken! twitter | facebook