We are the City of Righteousness

OK, so I'm not doing so well staying on top of things!  I'm so sorry, my lovely people.  I appreciate everyone who takes time to read my thoughts, however bizarre they may be.  I'll try to do better!

I'm still not done with March's calendar - I only have through the 12th.  If you remember, March's emphasis is "How God Sees Us."  So March 1 was, "fearfully and wonderfully made" from Psalm 139.  Yesterday was "My people" from Exodus 3. 

Today, God sees us as His City of Righteousness, as found in Isaiah 1:26:  I will restore your leaders as in days of old, your rulers as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.”

In simple terms, righteousness is the condition of being morally or ethically justified.  In holiness terms, however, the definition is at once broader AND more defined. 

Because, we can never be justified on our own.  We can never be righteous within ourselves.  God is righteousness.  Only God.  And, through His loving kindness, He bestows upon us His characteristics . . . who He is. 

Righteousness is not the same thing as having rights.  (Shout out to Mom's Group!! lol)  We don't have the right to any of His characteristics . . . but He gives them to us when we ask Him for them.  He gives us wisdom, knowledge, discernment, love, the fruit of the Spirit . . . and righteousness. 

So imagine a City of Righteousness, filled with people who love God.  That's heaven, right?  Literally!  God allows us to be righteous through His favor, through His gift, through His restoration.  That's really amazing.  Look at Isaiah 61:


They will be called oaks of righteousness,
   a planting of the LORD
   for the display of his splendor
I delight greatly in the LORD;
   my soul rejoices in my God. 
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
   and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
   and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the soil makes the sprout come up
   and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness
   and praise spring up before all nations.  (verses 3, 10-11)

Boy, that's just like Him.  To give us these good gifts, and make us His children.  To allow us to be "oaks of righteousness" . . . I'm amazed.

But remember, as I am remembering today, that it's only through His grace we are righteous. We didn't earn it, we don't deserve it, we can't buy it.  All we can do is receive it.