Peaceful on Purpose by Joel Osteen

Author:Joel Osteen
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub, pdf
Publisher: FaithWords
Published: 2021-05-18T00:00:00+00:00

Be Bold as a Lion

The Scripture speaks of how God has made you righteous. Righteous means “to be holy, blameless, honorable.” It doesn’t say you’re going to be righteous one day when you perform better or when you get your temper under control. You are righteous right now—not because of what you’ve done, but because of what Christ has done. You can’t do anything to make you more righteous. In fact, the Scripture says all our righteousness is as filthy rags, meaning that we can never measure up on our own. No matter how hard we try to do what we know is right or how disciplined we are, there will be times when we fail.

The apostle Paul says in the book of Romans, “The gift of righteousness is for all who will receive it.” If you see yourself as unworthy, as undeserving, as not measuring up, the problem is that you’re not receiving the gift. The accuser will tell you that you’ve made too many mistakes, you’ve failed too many times, and you’ll never get it right. God says, “You are My holy, righteous, blameless, honorable, anointed, amazing child.” Who are you going to believe? Are you going to let the accuser deceive you into carrying the guilt and going around being against yourself? Start receiving the gift.

When those voices remind you of everything you’re not, of how many times you’ve failed, one of the best things you can say is, “I am righteous. I am holy. I am blameless. I am honorable.” Everything in your mind will say, No, you’re not. You have an addiction. You keep giving in to the temptation. You made those mistakes. But when you declare, “I am righteous,” you are announcing to every force that’s trying to stop you, you’re announcing to the accuser, to the guilt, and to the heaviness, “You don’t control my life. You don’t determine my destiny. You can’t stop my purpose. The Creator of the universe made me righteous. He made me holy and blameless.” What are you doing? You’re receiving the gift of righteousness.

Proverbs 28:1 says, “The righteous are as bold as a lion.” When it comes to righteousness, you have to be bold. Your own thoughts will tell you, You’re not blameless. God is not pleased with you. How could He be? Look at what you’ve done. Look at your mistakes. Guilt and condemnation will come knocking at the door. If you’re unsure and doubtful, intimidation and guilt will take over. This is where you have to be bold. “I may not feel worthy, but I know that God has made me worthy. I don’t feel righteous, but, Father, by faith I receive Your gift. I thank You that I am righteous.”

“Well, Joel,” you say, “I’m just an old sinner saved by grace.” No, you used to be an old sinner, but when you gave your life to Christ, you became a new creation. Now you’re not an old sinner—you’re a son, you’re a daughter, of the Most High God.

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