"Stand firm therefore . . . having put on the breastplate of righteousness" (Eph. 6:14).

A righteous life testifies to God’s transforming power and brings Him glory.

We've seen the importance of donning the breastplate of righteousness, but Scripture also discusses the consequences of failing to do so. These consequences serve as warnings to anyone who is prone to neglect righteousness.

If you're not committed to righteousness, you not only make yourself spiritually vulnerable, but also forfeit some of God's wonderful blessings. David prayed, "Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation" (Ps. 51:13). His sin had robbed him of his joy and assurance. That's true of us as well because joy is directly proportional to obedience. If you're pursuing greater righteousness, you'll know greater joy.

You might also forfeit some of your heavenly reward. John said, "Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward" (1 John 8). I believe that New Testament rewards are various capacities for service in heaven. The greater your reward, the greater your capacity to serve God. Somehow your current righteousness and faithfulness to God affect what you will do for all eternity. Don't allow sin and negligence to diminish your reward!

Without righteousness you will also suffer loss of opportunity to glorify God. When thinking or behaving unrighteously, you violate your reason for existence, which is to glorify God in everything (1 Cor. 10:31). Instead of exalting Him, you bring reproach on His name. Instead of causing others to see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matt. 5:16), you breed confusion and mockery.

Peter says to us, "Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that . . . they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation" (1 Pet. 2:11). When unbelievers scrutinize your life, what do they see? Does your righteousness testify of God's saving and sanctifying grace?

Suggestions for Prayer

Ask God to give you an increased hunger and thirst for righteousness as you seek to live to His glory today.

For Further Study

Memorize 2 Corinthians 5:21 21 Him who knew no sin he made `to be' sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him. as a reminder of God's marvelous grace to you.

From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.

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