Results of Obeying the Voice
Declared Righteous

Scripture Reading:  Romans 2:11-16

Key Verse: Romans 2:13

For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.

Think for a moment of how you would feel if you could stand before God and hear Him declare: “You are righteous in my sight!”  Wouldn’t that feel great?  All doubt about yourself and how God views you would be over.  Most of us feel we need to do better and walk around with a spiritually poor self-esteem.

            In today’s printed key verse, God declares that you are righteous if you obey His voice.  He has spoken through His Word and expects His followers to obey.  If we do, we can have the confidence that through God’s eyes we are right.  In this verse, it also reminds us that simply hearing the voice is not what gains us that declaration.  The Apostle James wrote: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourself.  Do what it says” (James 1:22).

            The result of obeying the voice is being declared righteous.  To trust that, we simply ask ourselves the question: “Am I doing all I know to do?”  That means that God reveals specific truths, in the Bible, to us when He deems we are ready.  After those spiritual revelations, we must walk in obedience to them if we want to have the confidence that we are righteous.  John states it very simply and clearly: “Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God…” (1 John 3:10).  And, again, John says: “He who does what is sinful is of the devil” (1 John 3:8).  “He who does what is right is righteous” (1 John 3:7).

Father, I take my confidence in your voice.  I receive the title of righteous as I obey your Word to me.  In Jesus’ name, amen.