AUGUST THEREFORE YOUR LIFE IN RIGHTEOUSNESS TO ENSURE IT: DO STRIVE RIGHTEOUSLY – FOR THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AWAITS YOU – BY THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE!
“No man that WARRETH ENTANGLETH himself with the AFFAIRS of this life; that he may PLEASE him who hath CHOSEN him to be a SOLDIER. 5 and if a man also STRIVE for MASTERIES, yet is he NOT CROWNED, except he STRIVE LAWFULLY. 6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first PARTAKER of the fruits” 2 Timothy 2:4-6.
It is awesome, gracious and graceful to stand before Father God’s presence, day by day until the final day, without the sense of guilt, doubt, daunt, inferiority and sin consciousness.
For that, indeed, should be the path of the Believer’s daily consciousness in Christ Jesus, while doing LIFE and living in GODLINESS, to ensure the promised CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS that awaits us is attained accordingly.
There is A CROWN of righteousness laid up and awaiting ALL who order their life in righteousness in Christ Jesus by — FIGHTING the GOOD FIGHT of righteousness, FINISHING the GOOD COURSE of righteousness, FOLLOWING the GOOD PATH of righteousness and KEEPING THE FAITH of righteousness while on this side of the heavens.
You can picture Apostle Paul as a mortal man like you and me, who FOUGHT the good fight of FAITH, looked toward the promised CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS as he affirmed he would receive his, and admonished all Believers in Christ Jesus to look toward the same.
“Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day” 2 Timothy 4:8
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 henceforth there is laid up for me a CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, which the Lord, the RIGHTEOUS JUDGE, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” 2 Timothy 4:7-8.
Therefore, be emboldened in Christ Jesus to — STRIVE RIGHTEOUSLY, for awaiting you is THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, by the righteous Judge — our Father God.
Ensure today that you daily order your life in the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God that is in Christ Jesus to ENACT, AUTHENTICATE and ENSURE it.
SCRIPTURAL THOUGHTS WORTH PONDERING IN CONTEXT:
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED. 2 For I bear them record that they have A ZEAL OF GOD, BUT NOT ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGE. 3 For they being IGNORANT of God’s righteousness, and going about to ESTABLISH their own righteousness, have not SUBMITTED themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the END of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. . .” Romans 10:1-10.
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 henceforth there is laid up for me a CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, which the Lord, the RIGHTEOUS JUDGE, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” 2 Timothy 4:7-8.
“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that WARRETH ENTANGLETH himself with the AFFAIRS of this life; that he may PLEASE him who hath CHOSEN him to be a SOLDIER. 5 and if a man also STRIVE for MASTERIES, yet is he NOT CROWNED, except he STRIVE LAWFULLY. 6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first PARTAKER of the fruits” 2 Timothy 2:1-6.
“For if by one man’s offence DEATH REIGNED by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS shall REIGN IN LIFE by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by THE RIGHTEOUSNESS of one the free gift came upon all men unto JUSTIFICATION of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be MADE RIGHTEOUS. 20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21 that as sin hath REIGNED unto death, even so might GRACE REIGN through RIGHTEOUSNESS unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord” Romans 5:17-21.
Further Scriptural Reading Text: Romans 10:1-10.
SUMMARY:
The Believer must live daily in righteousness — guilt-free, sin-consciousness-free, and confident before Father God.
A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS awaits all who STRIVE LAWFULLY: fighting the good fight, finishing the race, following the way, and keeping the faith in Christ Jesus till the last day.
KEY POINTS
- THE CALL TO RIGHTEOUS LIVING AND STRIVING
- The charge is clear: “AUGUST THEREFORE YOUR LIFE IN RIGHTEOUSNESS TO ENSURE IT: DO STRIVE RIGHTEOUSLY — FOR THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AWAITS YOU — BY THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE!”
- This striving is not by works, but by ordering your life in the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God that is in Christ Jesus — to ENACT, AUTHENTICATE and ENSURE it daily.
- It is “awesome, gracious and graceful to stand before Father God’s presence, day by day until the final day, without the sense of guilt, doubt, daunt, inferiority and sin consciousness.”
- THE PATTERN OF THE SOLDIER, ATHLETE AND FARMER
Paul gives 3 pictures of lawful striving:
The Soldier: “No man that WARRETH ENTANGLETH himself with the AFFAIRS of this life; that he may PLEASE him who hath CHOSEN him to be a SOLDIER” 2 Timothy 2:4
The Athlete: “if a man also STRIVE for MASTERIES, yet is he NOT CROWNED, except he STRIVE LAWFULLY” 2 Timothy 2:5
The Farmer: “The husbandman that laboureth must be first PARTAKER of the fruits” 2 Timothy 2:6
Application: Endure hardness, stay focused, and labour in righteousness to partake of the reward.
- THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
- There is A CROWN laid up for ALL who order their life by:
FIGHTING the GOOD FIGHT of righteousness,
FINISHING the GOOD COURSE of righteousness,
FOLLOWING the GOOD PATH of righteousness and
KEEPING THE FAITH of righteousness.
- Apostle Paul modelled it: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” 2 Timothy 4:7
And he declared the reward: “henceforth there is laid up for me a CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, which the Lord, the RIGHTEOUS JUDGE, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” 2 Timothy 4:8
- THE FOUNDATION: GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESSINCHRIST
- True righteousness is not self-established. “For they being IGNORANT of God’s righteousness, and going about to ESTABLISH their own righteousness, have not SUBMITTED themselves unto the righteousness of God” Romans 10:3
- Christ is the end of the law for righteousness: “For Christ is the END of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” Romans 10:4
- By His obedience we are MADE RIGHTEOUS: “by THE RIGHTEOUSNESS of one the free gift came upon all men unto JUSTIFICATION of life… by the obedience of one shall many be MADE RIGHTEOUS” Romans 5:18-19
- We reign in life by it: “they which receive abundance of grace and of THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS shall REIGN IN LIFE by one, Jesus Christ” Romans 5:17
- FINAL EXHORTATION
Be emboldened in Christ Jesus to STRIVE RIGHTEOUSLY, for awaiting you is THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS from the righteous Judge — our Father God.
Ensure today that you daily order your life in that righteousness to walk in GODLINESS and attain the promise.
IN ONE SENTENCE
Live unentangled, strive lawfully, and keep the faith — because the RIGHTEOUS JUDGE has a CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS reserved for all who walk in the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
REV. CHUKIE MORSI
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