1John 3:6-7 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.
The word of God is full of wisdom. In this verse I think it is pretty simple to understand the first part from verse 6. If I keep walking in a lifestyle of sin and satisfying the flesh then I probably don't know God. But what does it look like to "practice righteousness?" Matt 6 tells us not to practice righteousness before men, so it appears that it is something we do in private. Isaiah 64 tells us our righteousness is as filthy rags. Therefore, it looks as though we ourselves can not produce our own righteousness.
Righteousness starts at the cross of Jesus Christ. 1Cor 1:30 tells us that Jesus Christ is our righteousness. In Him we receive our righteousness. We can not earn it, buy it, or borrow it from someone else.
The practice of righteousness begins and ends with me making a decision to live in Christ. To walk by faith in Jesus with the understanding that He is my everything. Spending time in the Word and in prayer, falling in love with the Maker of the universe. Practicing righteousness means accepting, walking in, and loving the Savior Jesus Christ. It also means that we put away the practice of sinning and repent from our ways of the flesh.
Are you practicing righteousness today?
Blessings,
Keith
