CHRISTIAN AND THE NATION – “WE ARE CALLED TO WALK IN RIGHTEOUSNESS”

Many times as Christians, we focus solely upon our future life in the Kingdom of God, and we forget this simple fact completely, that  “WE – AS GOD’S CHILDREN – ARE CALLED TO WALK IN RIGHTEOUSNESS” in the place that God had placed us on this earth. We are called to walk in righteousness in our lives, in our families, in our neighbourhoods, in the society, at the work place, with our family and friends, in the Church, among fellow Christians, among non-Christians, and in the nation God had given us.

The reason and the purpose for our LORD and Saviour to ask us to live in righteousness is because, the LORD Jesus wants to first, work in our lives, and then work in the lives of others, through us. When we walk on the path of righteousness, the hand of God rests upon us and upon all things that we come in contact with.
– “34 Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.” – Proverbs 14:34
– “11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.” – Proverbs 11:11

As Christians – the Chosen People of God, the children of God – we are called to live a life of righteousness. Now, what do we mean by “Walking in Righteousness?” To walk in righteousness is to desire, pursue and live a life as commanded by God in the Bible. Christian morals, ethics and principles govern our conduct in public and in private. The standards of God become our standards, and we willingly, intentionally and joyfully walk on them. We walk on the paths of righteousness as the most natural thing to do.

What are the benefits of we do so? We are personally blessed, and so also everything else that we come in contact with, including the nation that God had given us to live in. The life of Joseph is a good example of the hand of God blessing us and everyone and everything that comes in contact with us, when we walk in righteousness.
– “2 The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand. 4 So Joseph found favour in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.” – Genesis 39:2-4
– “21 But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. 23 The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper.” – Genesis 39:21-23
– “38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” – Genesis 41:38-40

Let us as Christians, in whichever land we may have been placed by our God, walk faithfully and obediently after the LORD Jesus, in righteousness. Let us learn to love the land that is given to us. Let us learn to live for our God in the land given to us. Let us desire the good and the best of God for our land and our nation.
– “14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14

Even so, the LORD help us to walk in righteousness all the days of our lives, for the glory of our LORD, for the blessing of the people, and for the blessing of the nation that is given to us by God.