"But you, man of God…. pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness." - 1 Timothy 6:11
Have you ever pursued something in life? I mean not just a casual following after, but really pursuing. Some people pursue a career, others possessions or relationships. Think of something that you have set your sight on, and gone after with all your heart. To achieve the end goal you would let nothing stand in your way or distract you.
The word pursue in the context of 1 Timothy 6:11 implies effort, diligence, determination and endurance.
Over the next six posts we will look at six Christlike characteristics we are told to pursue.
“Pursue righteousness”
The bible refers to two kinds of righteousness: positional and personal righteousness. The first can only be received through faith and by the grace of God. The second can only be achieved by our commitment to work out our own salvation with the help of the Holy Spirit,
Positional righteousness:
This is righteousness that we receive from God. It is given to us when we trust in Jesus, and it is based on Christ’s sacrificial death. Another word for this kind of righteousness is imputed righteousness. Positional or imputed righteousness is not earned, it is given. It is a gift of grace that we receive by faith.
"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." - 2 Corinthians 5:21
"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….” - Isaiah 61:10
Personal righteousness:
In the context of 1 Timothy 6:11 it is this personal righteousness we are told to pursue.
"The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness." - Proverbs 15:9
This righteousness is outward holiness, and it’s one evidence of salvation. Living as a Christian is not a passive activity it requires outward evidence of an inward change. While Christ’s righteousness was imputed to me when I believed, personal righteousness, along with godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness only come with time, effort, and submission to the Holy Spirit.
To pursue righteousness means we have to go after it intentionally and deliberately daily pursuing and developing the Christlike character. We are in it for the long haul!
“Pursuing righteousness” means we are a “work in progress.” It is perfected daily through obedience to Him, and it slowly reveals itself as evidence of our faith. This righteousness means to do right, to do right before God; do right to God and to do right before man and to do right to man... It requires obedience to God’s word, God’s ways and God’s will. Our conduct is right; our behaviour is right; our life is right; We do what is right. How different life would be if we lived righteously ALL OF THE TIME? We are pursuing righteousness when we are pursuing the character of Christ and desire holiness more than any indulgence of the flesh.
What indulgence of the flesh do I need to deal with?
Lust
Greed
Laziness
Pride
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." - Matthew 5:6
Prayer: Heavenly Father, my heart longs to continually live in righteousness. I know that I am made righteous only by the shed blood of the Lord Jesus, but I also know that in Your Kingdom, I will reap what I sow. Please help me to consistently sow righteousness. Use me to sow what pleases You and not myself. Help me to care passionately about and for others, demonstrating the life of Christ with my words and our actions. Amen.
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