Bible Reading: Ezekiel 18:5, 9b
God wants each one of us to work to become righteous.
In today’s Bible reading Ezekiel says, “Suppose there is a righteous man who does what
is just and right…That man is righteous; he will surely live, declares the Sovereign LORD.” In these verses, Ezekiel gives us a brief description of a righteous person – “a man who does what is just and right.”
What does Ezekiel’s description mean to you and me? What does it mean to do what is just and right in our world today?
First, God wants us to honor Him in all of our actions. He wants us to worship only Him, the one true God. He wants us to obey all of Him commands.
Second, God wants us to show respect to other people and their belongings. He wants us to show love and kindness to everyone at all times. He wants us to be honest and trustworthy.
In addition, God wants us to willingly work to earn the things we need and desire, then be generous with the blessings God fives us, using them to help people in genuine need, primarily widows and orphans who are unable to provide for themselves.
We can’t do these things perfectly by relying only on our own abilities and resources. We need Jesus. Confess your sins and failings to God. Accept Jesus’ forgiveness and perfection as your own. Then ask Him to help you become the righteous person God wants you to be.
“Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right.” Psalm 106:3
Prayer: Heavenly Father, make me the kind of person You want me to be – righteous like Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.