The Gift of Righteousness

One day after cross-country practice, a parent angrily confronted me from behind, glaring at me.  After receiving his message of complaints, I didn’t feel prepared to respond,  and I admit I was angry, but instead of answering,  I forwarded it to the Athletic Director, who handled it well. I was grateful that the director did not reprimand me, as I immediately assumed. 

However, a spirit/part within me wanted to fight. She had to physically fight to survive among boys and men who verbally and physically attacked her. It’s hard to restrain that little girl (ego) when I feel threatened or attacked. Instead of suppressing her or dismissing the behavior, I went to my superior, Jesus; I prayed because it was more about what could have been than the offender’s behavior toward me. I knew it would have been sinful if I handled the situation according to my ability. “Know Thyself.”

 LORD, thank You for Your divine intervention and for giving me the gift of righteousness through the Righteous One, Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for giving me direction and perspective according to the abundance of Your grace. Thank You, heavenly Father, for protecting and defending me from the evil eye. Forgive me, LORD, for the many times I went ahead of You and vindicated myself. Deliver me from the lust of self-vindication. Cleanse me of all unrighteousness, and let Your Son, the Righteousness One, Jesus Christ rule and reign in me, in the Mighty Name of Jesus, amen. 

Romans 5:15:-19: “But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense, many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the One Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment that came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift that came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

Therefore, through one man’s offense, judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation; even so, through the one Man’s righteous act, the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by One Man’s obedience, many will be made righteous.”