Prov. 18:10 The Name of the Lord is a Strong Tower

Prov. 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run to it and are safe.

I heard a radio preacher this week say, "The Lord doesn't need your righteousness. The only righteousness you need to worry about is the righteousness of Jesus." He went on to say that we put on righteousness like clothing to brag about our deeds to others. I was shocked! Is it any wonder that the people of God look exactly like the world?

We act in selfish and wicked ways as if our righteousness doesn't matter to God. Of COURSE it matters to God. Like any good father, God disciplines us. He trains us in righteousness. If we choose to persist in wicked behavior, God persists in disciplining us... we reap what we sow, and if we sow seeds of sin, we (and our children, and those around us) will reap the wrath of God. Maybe we won't lose our salvation; that's not my call and I'm glad we can trust God with that responsibility. But we will find we have raised children who ignore our commands, as we have ignored God's. When God's Word tells us to "be holy as (He) is holy", we should obey that.

The old testament gives us 10 commandments to live by... the new testament gives only two. 1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and 2. Love your neighbor as yourself. If we love God, we will obey his commands. If we love our neighbor, we will obey God's commands. We owe him that.