“Mama always said, “Stupid is as stupid does.” That is one of my favorite lines from the famous movie Forest Gump. It’s best if you have say it out loud just like Forest. Try it, “Stupid is as stupid does.” No mater how it’s said, this is sage wisdom. And the meaning is simple: if you’re stupid on the inside you’re going to act/be stupid on the outside. This past Sunday the sermon message echoed the same sentiment as Forest’s mama taught, “Righteous is as Righteous Does.”
We learned that there are two types of righteousness, which I labeled “A” and “Be”. “Righteousness A” is forensic. It is a legal definition of your proximity to God the Father based on your relationship with God the Son, Jesus Christ. In this sense the word, “righteous,” means “right standing”. If you are a follower of Jesus then “Righteousness A” was given to you at the very moment of Salvation when you believed in Jesus. You are now “clothed in the righteous of Christ Jesus” and can enter directly into God’s holy presence, just as though you never sinned (Galatians 3:27; Hebrews 4:16). In other words, you are now “justified” because Jesus died for your sins. Now, you can thankfully say, “It’s just-as-if-i’d-never-sinned. I’m justified! The price has been paid” (Romans 6:23). However, Salvation is only the beginning of your New Life in Christ. The apostle Paul gave us the legal language of “Righteousness A,” but Jesus and his brother James most often spoke/speak of “Righteousness Be”.
Righteousness Be is all about the doing. “Faith without works is dead,” says James (James 2:14-26). “Righteousness A” roots your faith and the fruits that grow from that planting are your good works, “Righteousness Be”. Are you fruitful and useful? Are you being the light and salt in this world? If so, “Righteous is as Righteous Does!” However, many of us are not living righteously, or not enough. And it’s not because we don’t have “Righteousness A” but because we haven’t LET “Righteousness A” “have its sure work in us” (Philippians 1:6). We have failed to “let this mind be in us, which was also in Christ” (Philippians 2:5). We have failed to “be transformed by the renewing of our minds” (Romans 12:2). As a result we have “conformed our pattern of thinking and therefore behavior to that of the world” (“Mama always said, “Stupid is as stupid does.”). As my Dad like to say, we have got to rid ourselves of “stinking thinking” and stop rolling around in the muds of the “nasty now and now”. Our “Righteousness Be” is as filthy rags, they stink because, even if our spirit has been renewed in Christ Jesus we have not let that renewal have its sure work by letting the Words of Christ course through our veins and brains (Isaiah 64:6). When we do?! If we do! World Watch out! World get ready for a Revelation!
When the saints of God start being righteous instead of just having righteousness there will be a quickening of the Gospel as we each begin to shine right where we are. Destinies are discovered in those moments! Righteous is as Righteous Does. Although righteousness begun on the cross and you get it through faith as a free gift (Righteousness A), it is proven/shown by your good works (Righteousness B). We will each be known by our fruits. Go change the world! Go Be Righteous Today. The world is hungry.
Three steps to Be Righteous TODAY:
- START telling yourself what God says about you. STOP echoing those negative narratives. What does God say about you? Feast on the Words of the Bible and you will find out! Here’s a good summary of “What God Thinks About You.”
- START pointing out to yourself and to others the GOOD in people and situations. It’s is easy to see the mistakes and dark places in life. Anyone can do that. However, Righteous Superheroes can see the light and the good things, even in the dark places. Not only do they see the light and good, they speak up and point it out for others. (Here’s one way to do this. Has someone hurt you recently? Maybe a coworker or friend ignored you today? Instead of throwing them the shade they probably deserve, make an excuse in your mind for why they did that thing that hurt you and instead bless them with a prayer or by pointing out something good they do today. Remember, if you curse someone, then you curse yourself at the same time. Why? Because the curse must flow through your thoughts and mouth and gets you all dirty in the process. WHAT IF YOU BLESSED THEM INSTEAD?!!!!!)
