Righteousness in ProgressSample

RIGHTEOUS PEACE

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Yesterday, we learned that wisdom and justice are the cornerstones of God’s righteousness. It forms the base from which all the great promises to the righteous are being fulfilled.

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In Isaiah 32, we find the first righteous result that flows from God’s perfect justice. “Justice will rule in the wilderness and righteousness in the fertile field. And this righteousness will bring peace. Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in safety, quietly at home. They will be at rest” (v. 16-17, NLT).

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Is it possible that the opposite is true as well? Is a lack of peace and rest an indication of unrighteous living? It seems that way. “‘But those who still reject me are like the restless sea, which is never still but continually churns up mud and dirt. There is no peace for the wicked’, says my God” (Isaiah 57:20-21, NLT).

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The solution feels obvious when we go back a few verses. “I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts” (Isaiah 57:15, NLT), and “‘I will comfort those who mourn, bringing words of praise to their lips. May they have abundant peace, both near and far,’ says the Lord, who heals them” (v. 19). We gain righteous peace when we repent and our sins are forgiven.

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In the New Testament, Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy. Jesus seldom gave a blessing of peace without mentioning forgiveness. “Then Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ … And Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace’” (Luke 7:48-50, NLT). And in John 20, peace and forgiveness were among the first words Jesus spoke to the disciples after His resurrection. “Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! ‘Peace be with you,’ he said .. Then he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven’” (v. 19-23, NLT).

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Do you struggle to live a quiet, peaceful life? Do you often feel restless and rushed? Can you think of any unrepented or unforgiven sin that may be keeping you from living in peace?

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Let us become more like God’s righteousness by pursuing peace and quiet in our lives. And let us repent and forgive willingly as we find His perfect, righteous peace. “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!.. For those who are righteous, the way is not steep and rough. You are a God who does what is right, and you smooth out the path ahead of them” (Isaiah 26:3-7, NLT).

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