THEME: RIGHTEOUSNESS BRINGS BLESSINGS
MEMORISE
“Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” – (Hebrews 1:9)
READ: Psalm 33:1-5 (KJV)
1. Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous; for praise is comely for the upright.
2. Praise the LORD with harp; sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
3. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
4. For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
5. He loveth righteousness and judgment; the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
MESSAGE
There are many things we must consider before Romans 8:28 can become a reality in our lives. We have to first look at today’s Scripture reading in conjunction with the memory verse.
Today’s Scripture reading reveals that only a certain group of people can rejoice in the Lord and they are the righteous. In other words, even amidst all the calamities in this world, the righteous can still experience the goodness of the Lord. We also see that what makes a man righteous is the word of God. Psalm 33:4 says:
For the word of the Lord is right and all his works are done in truth.
Psalm 119:9 and 115-116 also corroborate this. Although unrighteousness appears to have become the order of the day and it appears the wicked are walking around free and ‘rejoicing’, you must not be deceived because their end is destruction. I know this because Psalm 73:18-19 says:
Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors.
We see a contrast in fortune for the righteous in today’s memory verse, however. Here, the blessedness of righteousness is revealed. Those who love to be upright and hate iniquity are anointed with the oil of gladness. In other words, even when the world is in agony, the righteous are far from calamities, rejoicing in the goodness of the Lord. A classic example of this is Noah who was preserved in the ark with members of his immediate family during the flood (Genesis 7:17). While others agonized and drowned, Noah was navigating upon the flood safely with his family. This is exactly how it would turn out on the last day; the righteous shall rejoice and the wicked shall be damned. Even now, God knows how He keeps His children from danger. Psalm 91 confirms this.
May the blessedness of the Lord be your portion from today as you live righteously, even in this perverse world, in the mighty name of Jesus.
ACTION POINT
Father, please endow me with the blessedness of the righteous, even as I live for You, in the name of Jesus.
AUTHOR: Pastor E. A. Adeboye
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Amos 1 - 4
HYMNAL:
HYMN: THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING
1. “Must I go, and empty-handed,”
Thus my dear Redeemer meet?
Not one day of service give Him,
Lay no trophy at His feet?
“Must I go, and empty-handed?”
Must I meet my Savior so?
Not one soul with which to greet Him:
Must I empty-handed go?
2. Not at death I shrink nor falter,
For my Savior saves me now;
But to meet Him empty-handed,
Thought of that now clouds my brow.
3. O the years in sinning wasted;
Could I but recall them now,
I would give them to my Savior,
To His will I’d gladly bow.
4. O ye saints, arouse, be earnest,
Up and work while yet ’tis day;
Ere the night of death o’ertake thee,
Strive for souls while still you may
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