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The Righteous
Why were you chosen? This was the question asked today during a discussion after church services. My initial response was that I didn^t know. Then I attempted to explain that God chose people with certain characteristics. I was not permitted to pursue this line of thought during the discussion but I will expound on it here. I will also address the problem with the individual who would not hear me out.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous. Psalm 34:19 ASV
For many are invited, but few are chosen. Matthew 22:14 NIV
Do not be misled: ^Bad company corrupts good character.^ 34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God~I say this to your shame. 1 Corinthians 15:33 and 34 NIV.
There is such a thing as bad company and there is such a thing as good character and good character can be corrupted and bad company does corrupt. I get more corrupted at church services on the Sabbath than I do during my worldly routines and encounters with non~church members, that is because of encounters with a certain individual. I am more sorely tested and mistreated by him than by non~members that I have discussions with at other times. Does this seem right? The concepts of righteousness and wickedness are not foreign to the Bible. There are thousands of passages dealing with these topics. They are well explained in simple terms and are easily understood. I do not understand why someone would try to aggravate we who are holding on to these well~taught concepts. He seems to think that our faith is a toy for him to play with. Just because annoying is not a Biblical term does not give anyone license to be annoying. Being annoying is at par with being wicked a topic well covered. The wicked are bad company.
they that hate the righteous shall be condemned. Psalm 34:21 ASV
There is a God and He judges rightly. The concept that God just picks people randomly or without reason is totally foreign to Christianity. Noah, Abraham and Lot had admirable characteristics.
But Noah found favor in the eyes of Jehovah. . . . Noah was a righteous man, and perfect in his generations: Noah walked with God. Genesis 6:8 and 9 ASV
And he (Abraham) believed in Jehovah; and he (God) reckoned it to him for righteousness. Genesis 15:6 ASV
and spared not the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, having made them an example unto those that should live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, sore distressed by the lascivious life of the wicked (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their lawless deeds): the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment unto the day of judgment. 2 Peter 2:5 to 9 ASV
Anyone who thinks that God does not choose righteous characters is completely wrong. Read the following and think again. Don^t just think but learn to act accordingly.
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated wickedness: Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee With the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Psalm 45:7 ASV
He will judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with his truth. Psalm 96:13 ASV
He will not judge randomly or haphazardly and He calls them people not sinners.
Riches profit not in the day of wrath; But righteousness delivereth from death. The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way; But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them; But the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity. Proverbs 11:4 to 6 ASV
He that is stedfast in righteousness shall attain unto life; And he that pursueth evil doeth it to his own death. Proverbs 11:19 ASV
The way of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah; But he loveth him that followeth after righteousness. Proverbs 15:9 ASV
Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked. Exodus 23:7 ASV
For Jehovah knoweth the way of the righteous; But the way of the wicked shall perish. Psalm 1:6 ASV
For thou wilt bless the righteous; O Jehovah, thou wilt compass him with favor as with a shield. Psalm 5:12 ASV
For Jehovah is righteous; He loveth righteousness: The upright shall behold his face. Psalm 11:7 ASV
There are hundreds of such passages. I can^t understand why anyone would make it a topic for dispute or contention. That is the log in some eyes.
Noah was chosen. Abraham was chosen. Lot was chosen. The tribe of Judah, the Jews, was chosen. We are chosen. God has His reasons for choosing each. His chosen are obedient to His will, His commandments, His precepts and His ordinances. The Jews were chosen to keep the books of the Bible, to show the world that God^s ways work and to be the tribe that Jesus was born in. They have accomplished their tasks faithfully.
The Bible tells us what God is doing. He didn^t have to tell us but He did. We can either accept it with gratitude or reject it with disdain. We can either help in spreading the good news or try to put a stop to it. We can either comfort the chosen or cause them distress. We can choose God^s ways or Satan^s ways. We can choose life or choose death.
2007 Jacques Gauvin
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