I’m a sucker for Latin. I haven’t studied it a lot and I know it’s a dead language and all, but there is something about the sound of Latin words and phrases that sound so beautiful to me.
A few years ago I designed a canvas print with the words, Coram Deo on it. It means, “in the presence of God,” and it makes me think of Psalm 139:7, where David says there’s not a place he can go where he could flee from the Lord’s presence.
So true, isn’t it?
Soli Deo Gloria
Another Latin phrase I love is Soli Deo Gloria. When I think of this phrase, it begs the question, ‘What does it mean to live righteously?’
Likely, you’ve heard this Latin phrase before. Composers like Johann Sebastian Bach would write it at the bottom of their music. These beautiful words mean, “to the glory of God alone.”
The pastor at the first church my husband and I attended years ago gave us a book called the Westminster Shorter Catechism. One truth it states is:
“Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”
All of life is to be lived for the glory of God.
To live a life that gives glory to God alone, we must study the Word and hide it in our hearts. We need to be diligent to abide in the Lord, pursue Him, and pursue His righteousness. When we abide in Him, we’ll yearn to spend time with Him, sit at His feet, and learn from Him. Understanding how to pursue righteousness starts here.
This is where pursuing righteousness begins.
What is Righteousness?
We are made righteous in the eyes of God by the blood of Jesus. Through His death and resurrection, and our acceptance of that free gift, our sins are forgiven and God sees us as righteous. This is called justification.
Here’s another big word: sanctification. Sanctification means “set apart”. Those in Christ are set apart for God to live holy lives unto Him. But, sanctification is also a process— one of the continual work of the Holy Spirit in our lives to help us grow in the Lord and become more like Christ every day.
“And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. ”
Our behavior and conduct should show the world that we are set apart for God, living for Him— not living for the world. The Lord is working in our hearts and in our lives to draw us closer to Him and mold our character to be more like His.
Bible Verses About Righteousness
The word righteousness appears almost 300 times in the NASB version of the Bible, and this doesn’t even include the number of times we simply see the word, righteous. Needless to say, the Lord has a lot to tell us about this topic. I encourage you to study the many “righteousness “ verses in their context to grow in your understanding of what this truly means for us as believers.
Here are a few Bible verses about righteousness that stick out to me.
Proverbs 21:21
One who pursues righteousness and loyalty finds life, righteousness, and honor.
1 Timothy 6:11
But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
Proverbs 21:3
To do righteousness and justice is preferred by the Lord more than sacrifice.
matthew 6:33
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you. -Matthew 6:33
As you can see, these Bible verses about righteousness call us to pursue righteousness, do righteousness, and seek righteousness. But really, how do we do that? Let’s dive into it.
Instructions for Living Righteously
Pause for a minute with me, and take a look at the start of Psalm 1:
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.”
As we pay attention to the progression in these verses, we see: walk, stand, and sit. We can be mindful of the company we keep, but we also need to be mindful of how long we are in the presence of things not honorable to the Lord.
Once we start walking in bad counsel, eventually we get more comfortable and cease movement— which leads to standing amongst it all. And, once we’re comfortable enough to stand and hang out in wicked ways, we sit, relax, and take it all in— and before you know it, we’re also exhibiting those behaviors.
Sister, we can truly live Soli Deo Gloria only if we rely on the Holy Spirit and follow His guidance in our lives. And, that takes some good decision-making on our part as well.
PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS BY PURSUING THE LORD
To get to know the Lord better and what His righteousness truly looks like, we need to spend time in the Word, sis! Dive deeper in your quiet time with God using these FREE Bible study printables. Fill out the form below.
How to Pursue Righteousness: 11 Biblical Tips
Although you are ultimately made righteous in God’s eyes due to the acceptance of Christ as your Savior, you still live in freedom and can choose whether or not you are actively pursuing a lifestyle that is comparable to that of righteous living.
So, how can you conduct your life in a way that gives glory to God?
Grab your Bible and take a look at Psalm 15. This Psalm provides solid, practical answers, in the form of dos and don’ts, to the question:
How do you pursue righteousness?
#1: YOU WALK WITH INTEGRITY. Pursuing righteousness leads to a lifestyle that exhibits integrity. You are committed to God’s ways, and you serve the Lord, not yourself.
#2: YOU WORK RIGHTEOUSNESS. Your deeds exhibit justice. You promote good, not evil.
Examine your life: Ask yourself, “What results flow from my actions?”
#3: YOU SPEAK THE TRUTH IN YOUR HEART. Your speech exhibits reliability, honesty, and the truth of God’s Word. When you’re a woman who is pursuing righteousness, your heart is settled and steadfast on the things of the Lord. Therefore, beginning in your heart, what flows forth should be what is pleasing to Him, for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart (Luke 6:46). Evil heart intents bring forth evil; but not so with those whose hearts are focused with the Lord and His treasures. You don’t lie, deceive or manipulate, even when it seems necessary or convenient.
RELATED: Is it Ever Ok For a Christian to Lie?
#4: YOU DO NOT SLANDER WITH YOUR TONGUE. Your words matter. It’s always best to uplift and encourage others, speaking things that edify, not tear down. Again, check your heart (Luke 6:44-46)!
#5: YOU DO NO EVIL TO YOUR NEIGHBOR. I think there’s a good reason why Jesus said that loving your neighbor is the second greatest commandment (Matthew 22:39). It’s not good enough to just not do evil towards someone— you must also go the extra mile to be selfless and others-seeking, as you treat those around you with dignity and respect.
#6: YOU DON’T TAKE UP A REPROACH AGAINST YOUR FRIEND. This specifically touches on gossip, which is equally wrong whether it’s toward an enemy or a friend. Gossip can be any discussion about someone who isn’t physically present in the conversation, including sharing things about them without their permission. The truth can easily be manipulated or misconstrued, even if it’s by accident.
Our words and actions should always exemplify grace. Oftentimes gossip can happen because there is a desire to put someone down, as opposed to offering grace over their shortcomings. Just as we’d like to receive grace for our shortcomings, we should offer grace to all we come into contact with— including those who may be presently gossiping! Let’s keep the focus on Christ and the fact that He shed His blood, which covers all of our sins.
Examine your life: When a conversation turns to gossip do you add a negative comment, or do you offer support and grace?
#7: YOU DESPISE EVIL. You see things for what they are—evil is evil. You hate the things God hates. You don’t allow yourself to walk with others in their wicked ways.
#8: YOU HONOR THOSE WHO FEAR THE LORD. You respect fellow believers. You give them grace and encouragement. You can encourage them with your actions and words in person, over the phone, or surprise them by sending a sweet card in the mail!
#9: YOU KEEP YOUR WORD AND DO NOT CHANGE. You hold yourself accountable, no matter how high the cost.
Examine your life: Do others see you as reliable and trustworthy? Or do people doubt your follow-through? Do you hold yourself accountable for how you live for the Lord?
RELATED: Living for the Lord on Purpose
#10: YOU’RE GENEROUS WITHOUT INTEREST. When you live righteously you can give freely, because you know the Lord is your provider. You can give and expect nothing in return.
#11: YOU DON’T TAKE BRIBES AGAINST THE INNOCENT. This means that you cannot be bought. Could someone pay you to compromise your integrity?
To sum it up, David concludes the Psalm with these final words in verse 15: “He who does these things shall never be shaken.” We are solid in our ways when we rely on the Lord in our daily actions and interactions.
Let’s Pursue Righteousness
In terms of integrity and character, you could say the instructions in Psalm 15 are things the Lord expects of us as believers. These aren’t petty do’s and don’ts; they describe godliness in terms of a maturing character. It can perhaps feel daunting to view “all the things you have to do”; however, there’s no need to look at Scripture in this way. We study His Word. We sit at His feet. He desires intimacy with us and we pursue that intimacy. And, as we do, He changes us to become more and more like Him, being transformed into the same image from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). Intimacy with the Lord yields righteousness.
Sister, let’s put our thoughts and actions in their proper place. Join me in using this Psalm (and all of Scripture), not as something to hang over our heads to condemn us when we don’t live up to it; but instead, as a means by which we can simply measure our character. With the Lord’s help and guidance, and our desire to remain faithful to His Word, we can pursue righteousness.
We can live Soli Deo Gloria.
