True Righteousness

True Righteousness

With righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.

Isaiah 11:4

IN WORD According to Isaiah, the Messiah would not judge by what He saw and heard (v. 3). Instead, He would judge the needy with righteousness, bring justice on behalf of the poor, speak truth to the earth, and rebuke the wicked. In other words, He would make things right.

We admire that about our Savior. He defended the defenseless, went out of His way to lift up those who were beaten down, fed those who were hungry, healed those who were sick, touched those who were dirty and offensive, and suffered for those who didn’t deserve it. We praise Jesus for His compassion precisely because He demonstrated it in these ways. And yet, though we say we want to be conformed to His image, we don’t do much to demonstrate compassionate love like He did.

Think about that: Many churches are concerned for the poor and needy, but usually not in heavily sacrificial ways. When we come to Christ, we define righteousness in terms of morality and purity, not realizing that God defines it more fully. The righteousness of Jesus goes out of its way to take care of those who do not deserve His mercy, and it does so in visible, practical ways. If we have His righteousness, we’ll do the same.

IN DEED In all of our conforming to His image, it’s easy to forget this side of it. Jesus is self-sacrificing, deeply concerned for the poor and downtrodden, willing to go out of His way for the rough and ragged. We define “righteousness” as honesty and moral purity. Jesus defines it much more broadly. His is the kind of righteousness that zealously goes after everything that isn’t right in the world in order to make it reflect God’s Kingdom.

As you pray to be made in the image of Christ, remember what that image looks like. It has practical, tangible fruit. If you have His image, you will too.

Christ came to reveal what righteousness really is.

—MATTHEW ARNOLD