RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL
PREACH HIS LOVE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Sunday, February 10th , 2019
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome;
Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth (Romans 14:22).
Some people like it when a message of condemnation and judgement is preached. They prefer to hear more about sin and its judgement. But fear of judgement has never produced righteousness or the love of God. Gospel means good news, and that’s what Jesus sent us to preach and teach. He said, “…Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).
It’s not enough that you’re preaching a message about Jesus Christ; the message must be about His liquid love, the remission of sin that He made possible, and His gift of righteousness to everyone who believes. Don’t preach judgment or condemnation; preach His love and righteousness.
Some don’t like it when we preach righteousness and the love of Christ to sinners. What they don’t realise is that righteousness is actually a gift to the sinner, and not essentially to the Christian, because the Christian is born righteous. The sinner, upon hearing and believing the message of the Gospel, receives eternal life, which comes bundled with the gift of righteousness.
When we preach righteousness, people embrace righteousness, and once they do, they start living right. That’s because righteousness is a nature; it’s the nature of God that’s imparted to the spirit of the one who’s born again, granting him the ability to live right. Right living is a product of righteousness. No one can live right, who isn’t first made righteous; and only God gives righteousness; it’s not something you obtain by your own good works.
This is why we preach the Gospel, for only through the Gospel is the righteousness of God unveiled. Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ…For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith…” (Romans 1:16-17). Did you notice that?
So, if we don’t preach the true Gospel, people will never understand righteousness, and that would defeat the purpose for which Christ came to the world. He came to make men sons of God; He came to make sinners righteous. He came to make us one with the Father, and have His life and nature of righteousness. Hallelujah!
CONFESSION
Loving Father, thank you for your liquid love so lavishly poured out on all; the remission of sin made possible by the vicarious sacrifice of Jesus, and the resultant gift of righteousness to everyone who believes. Today, your righteousness is unveiled and embraced as many hear and receive the Gospel all around the world. Many are saved, healed, and delivered, and darkness is dispelled, to the glory and praise of your Name. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 6:13-14 Neither yield ye your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
2 Corinthians 5:21* For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1-Year Bible Reading Plan=> Matthew 27:1-26 & Exodus 38-39
2-Year Bible Reading Plan=> Matthew 13:34-43 & Genesis 41