For much too long we have lived defeated Christian lives. Why? Because we have not known that God made us righteous. Jesus took our sin and gave us His righteousness. We have been sin conscious instead of righteous conscious. The definition of righteousness is the God-given ability to stand in the presence of the most high God without a sense of inferiority, guilt, or shame; as though sin had never existed; just the same as Jesus, after His resurrection, was presented before the Father without spot.

God made us righteous. We didn't have anything to do with it, except receive Jesus as our personal Savior. This is the great exchange.

Romans 5:17-19 "For if by the one man's (Adam) offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Therefore, as through one man's (Adam) offense judgement came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's (Jesus) righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man's (Adam) disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's (Jesus) obedience many will be made righteous."

We can live our whole lives and never know or receive this marvelous gift, and we will still get have Heaven as our home.

My children are all grown, with their families and their lives, but they all know the rights they have in the Weddle family. They never question if they have the right to come in and eat or sleep or borrow the car. Those are unwritten privileges. How sad I would be if they acted as if they did not deserve what I give to them.

The devil does not want us to know what belongs to us in the Kingdom of God. Let us awake to the righteous privileges that have been given to us. Let us not draw back from what the Lord has done for us.

Amos 3:3 "Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?" We must agree with what God says in His Word about us. He says we are righteous then we are. What about the sins that were just committed today, yesterday, the thoughts and feelings? You are still righteous; you still have right standing with God.

1 John 1:9. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" Again we agree with the Word of God.

Begin to get into the Word of God and read it. It should be like looking in a mirror. You see who you are in the pages. You become awakened to the Word. You transform or change your thinking as you read the Word. You began to speak forth what you read.

You may say, "I just don't understand what I am reading."

Let me suggest that you begin in the New Testament reading the gospels and following Jesus' life. Then go into the book of Acts where God began to build the church with the new converts. The books of Paul are the epistles or letters that he wrote to the churches. He instructed and encouraged them. In each one, Paul tells us through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit who we are in Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:21 "For He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." The great exchange. God loves you and sees you as the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Your prayers can be prayed in confidence and your life can be victorious.

John 10:10 Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." Put your name in these scriptures, agree, and receive now what your Father God has given to you.

To the Glory of God,

sheila@sheilaweddle.com