Righteous through faith in Christ

 S-Romans 9:   (NASB)

30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, but the righteousness that is [y]by faith; 31 however, Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it [z]by faith, but as though they could [aa]by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 just as it is written:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense,

And the one who believes in Him will not be [ab]put to shame.”

O -    Even for the Israelites,  faith is much more important than good works.   God gave the Israelites the law, and generation after generation they pursued righteousness through good works.   Each was even given a role in fulfilling the law,  the Priests, the Levites, the warriors, some were prophets, others Kings.   All of this was their effort to live up to the law, while still not truely following the law; this was due to their lack of faith and not their lack of effort.   Jesus came to fulfill the Law and through faith in Him we are given the tools to live righteously.  So it is faith in Christ that we are able to live a righteous life.   

A - The application for me is to recognize that as a child of God I have a choice to live by faith or to live by works.   I am a man of action who loves checking things off of a to do list.  That is not what Christ is looking for.  He is looking for a relationship, which can only be developed through faith in the reality of who Christ is in me.   

P - Thank you Lord for today's word,  may it be sealed to my heart and grow my faith in You so that each day I might walk in righteousness.  I pray all this in Jesus Christ name, Amen.