As a pastor, I often meditate on the ebbs and flows of life through the lens of Holy Scripture. In our current world, people center their lives on various pursuits: the pursuit of happiness, pleasure, wealth, and relationships. Yet, sadly, even these perceived treasures offer no enduring satisfaction apart from a relationship with Christ. What is the worth of gaining the world but losing one’s soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? Matthew 16:26 questions us, compelling us to rethink our priorities.
As God’s chosen, we have been graciously liberated from the dominion of sin and death, and empowered to live for righteousness as described in 1 Peter 2:24. Our hope is not earthly but rooted in an eternal reward that is immune to the ravages of time or the deceptions of robbers (Matthew 6:19–20).
To comprehend this, we must recall the profound sacrifice that Jesus made for us; He took upon our sins on the cross and succumbed to death to pay its penalty. “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). Our trust in Jesus sets us free from sin’s consequences and its grasping hold on our lives. And in this newfound freedom, one is reborn through faith in Christ, standing righteous before God. Thanks to Christ’s suffering, we are no longer bound to live in sin. Instead, we now have the choice to live for righteousness.
Righteousness, defined broadly, embodies “morally acceptable behavior.” In Biblical terms, righteousness is synonymous with being acceptable to God, an acceptance made possible only by God. It conveys a sense of justice, justness, or divine holiness. We look to God as the standard of righteousness, hence, to be righteous is to be in right standing with God.
Living for righteousness means dedicating our every thought, speech, and action to this pursuit of moral correctness. It is to wholeheartedly comprehend that sin displeases God and to aim for holiness instead. As Paul told the Philippians, “whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). When we live for righteousness, we invite God to transform our minds and mold us “to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29 & 12:2).
Believers living for righteousness surrender their words to Christ’s lordship. Our words become potent reflections of Christ, echoing God’s grace. Ephesians 4:29 asks us not to utter unwholesome talk, but only words that encourage and build others up, mirroring the transformation God has effected in our hearts (Matthew 12:35).
Our actions, similarly, become a testament to the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. We no longer crave for selfish pleasures but yearn to embody things of God. We seek God’s help to create in us a clean heart and to renew a right spirit within us (Psalm 51:10). Our pursuit of Christ’s character becomes our foremost agenda, transforming our entire lives.
When we place faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit moves into our hearts, enabling us to live for righteousness (Acts 2:28). His presence bears fruit, reflecting His character in our lives, filling us “with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9–11). As Proverbs 15:9 asserts, “The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.”
Above all, living for righteousness is not only a command but a privilege, an opportunity to glorify God and draw closer to Him.
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