Week 442
Positive Post Sunday, August 17, 2025…. Week 442. The word “righteous” has a way of showing up in all kinds of settings, often with different shades of meaning depending on who’s saying it and why.
When I was younger and surfed along the California coast, we would use the word righteous to describe a good wave or a good ride😊. I have also heard righteous used to describe people who are morally upright or have strong principles.
Knowing that this word has a deeper meaning, I consulted my favorite book, the Bible. As expected, in religious context, especially in biblical language, righteousness carries more weight. In the Bible, righteous isn’t just about personal virtue. It’s about being in a “right” relationship with God, living according to His teachings, and above all, trusting in Him. It’s not just self-earned goodness but a state granted through faith and divine grace.
In both the Old and New Testaments, righteousness is seen as a covenantal relationship where believers trust in God’s promises and strive to live justly, humbly, and faithfully. For instance, Genesis 15:6 says, “Abram put his faith in the LORD, who attributed it to him as an act of righteousness,” highlighting that faith is foundational to righteousness. The apostle Paul echoes this in Romans, teaching that righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not through works, making it a gift received by grace.
In practice, biblical righteousness expresses itself through love, justice, mercy, and obedience to God, not to earn His favor, but to honor His gifts of love and grace. He loves first, forgives first, and calls us into covenant. Our righteous living is a response to that gift.
What does being righteous mean to you?
How are you living a life of biblical righteousness?