Righteousness Has Its Rewards

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DAILY VITAMIN
- Righteousness Has Its Rewards
"He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises gain from fraud and from oppression, who shakes his hand free from the taking of bribes, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes to avoid looking upon evil. [Such a man] will dwell on the heights; his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks; his bread will be given him; water for him will be sure." (Isaiah 33:15-16 AMP)
   There is always a place at the top for the righteous. He is bound by a covenantal promise to walk upon the high places of the earth. This covers both the nature of righteousness (which we have in Christ) and the practice of righteousness (which we must indulge in as now in Christ). This in its own right sets a man up for everlasting rewards; and today we'd be focusing on some of these rewards that can be found on the path of righteousness. The same rewards God has in store for us:
  1. The Revelation of God's power: Isaiah said "Who has believed our report? And to whom will the arm of the Lord be revealed?" Obedient faith draws the manifestation of God's power and person in our casual lives. Recall what John 14:21 says, "The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.]". David went further and wrote the same thing when he said that such a man will gain access to the deep things of God (Psalm 24:3-4; 25:14).
  2. The Expression of the God-Life: In Christ, the Word of God calls us the righteousness of God. Always remember that! Sin has no more control over us, and so does its power- death (Romans 6:6,10); nor its entities. However, in addition to this, we are told that when we consciously follow the route of this Way of life, we will find more and more expressions of what this experience holds in our everyday realities. Proverbs 21:21 says "He who earnestly seeks after and craves righteousness, mercy, and loving-kindness will find life in addition to righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) and honor"; and so by practically walking in the light of this culture, we begin to evidently manifest the very heritage of Christ in reality.
  3. Earthly Compensations: In addition to our inheritance in heaven, God says that the man who walks in righteousness shall have glory even on this earth. Isaiah 51:11 says "[The Lord God says] And the redeemed of the Lord shall return and come with singing to Zion; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away". Remember what Jesus also said to Peter, he that has forfeited all to follow my way shall receive manifold compensation for all he had foregone, plus everlasting life (Mark 10:29-30). And so, we are never at the disadvantage as we visibly practice His way of life.
   Let me leave you with this final words: Jesus borne your grief and sorrows (Isaiah 53:4), and so it means you have no more sorrows to bear. By walking in the spirit of righteousness, the Bible says that the reproach and sorrows shall be eradicated (Proverbs 14:34). So remember that none of these your good works before God shall ever go unrewarded (2 Chro 15:7). Glory to God!

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