The gates of righteousness

The psalmist wrote, ‘I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. Open to me the gates of righteousness; and I will go through them.’ Psa 118:17,19. Righteousness defines the work that He has predestined for us and the places that He has prepared for us to walk. Zech 3:7. Jeremiah wrote that the Lord has revealed our righteousness and that we declare these works of God in Zion, which is in the midst of His people. Jer 51:10. In the book of Revelation, we read that those at the marriage supper of the Lamb were clothed in fine linen which is the righteous acts of the saints. Rev 19:8.

So, how can we possibly know the righteous acts or works that have been preordained for us? How can we tap into the Lord’s naming of us and walk in our eternal identity? It would be true to say that we all carry with us a set of preconceived ideas about who we think we are, but that may not necessarily add up to God’s reality for our lives. Paul said that it hasn’t entered into the heart of man, ‘the things which God has prepared for those who love Him’. 1 Cor 2:9. So clearly, we just don’t know ourselves.

I have found that the Lord has revealed His work for me as I have given myself in offering. The gates of righteousness will open as we begin to offer in the midst of His people. Our naming and our work will become increasingly clear to us and certainly to those around us. The light of the Lord will shine on us, and our work will be identified. Paul said that James, Peter and John recognised the grace or gift that was in him. Gal 2:9.The challenge, of course, is to receive and believe the word of the Lord that comes to us. What if it doesn’t fit with our preconceptions?

The word ‘offering’ is seldom used in today’s society and would be better understood by people as ‘giving’. However, it is much more than just giving. Offering is the heart and life of God’s fellowship. We could say that it is the lifestyle that Father, Son and Holy Spirit cultivate together. They don’t live any other way but in a fellowship of giving and receiving. Paul encouraged us to have the same mind as Christ, who revealed this lifestyle of emptying and offering. Phil 2:5-8.

As we cry out to know the Lord, He will show us His way and will call us to follow. As we follow the Lamb and do the things which we see Him doing, the Lord Himself will lead us in paths of righteousness or a pathway of works. The word of His grace which comes to us through His messengers is the light that illuminates our way. As the light of the Lord begins to shine on us, we become known and identified. Knowing the Lord and His way of offering will allow us to know ourselves, for Christ carries all our names in Himself. Our name, our works and our days are already recorded in the Lamb’s book of life.

Helen Smith

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Feature Articles
November 2009

The word of His grace

Where is wisdom?
-Part 2

Believe and be established

Poured out

Yes and no

The gates of righteousness

Sufficient grace

A living sacrifice

Where your
treasure is

Strong in the Lord