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“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”  Those are the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:6 as He gave what is known as the Sermon On The Mount.  In this central teaching moment in the ministry of Jesus, He laid out the foundations for life according to His Kingdom.

Righteousness in lifestyle is a key command and desire of Jesus for His followers.  Purity of life, integrity, virtue, correctness of thinking, feeling and acting are some definitions of that word “righteousness,” as used in Scripture.  Does that seem like something far off and unrealistic when you consider your own humanity and the pressures of this life?

Guess what?  Righteousness isn’t an unattainable goal.  It certainly does not mean attaining perfection.  It is, however, a process.  It requires a commitment on our part to agree with Jesus and pursue the lifestyle He says it right. It is something you absolutely can live out with the help of Jesus.  Here are some tips from the Bible on how to live righteously.

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. (2 Timothy 2:22)

1. Avoid things that cause temptation.

…Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts.

Temptation is a part of life on this earth.  Our own human desires for things that displease God and our enemy, the devil, will present us with plenty of opportunities to disobey God and please our sinful nature.

We can take careful steps that will help us not to fall, but rather to stand strong in the face of temptation.

What areas are particularly tempting for you? In what areas are you are struggling to obey God? What safeguards can you implement to help make it easier for you to stand strong in those areas?

For instance, if you’re in a relationship and your goal is to fight for sexual purity in that relationship, maybe set a boundary that the two of you won’t be alone together in certain places or past a certain time at night. Share that boundary with a trusted friend or mentor and give them permission to help keep you accountable.

Furthermore, 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us that when we are tempted, God will show us a way out so that we can endure. Isn’t it encouraging to know that God is fighting with you to help you overcome temptation?

Ask Him to show you what steps to take to prevent putting yourself in unnecessarily tempting situations. When you do find yourself in tempting situations ask Him to show you a way out so that you can stand strong.

2. Pursue righteous living.

…Instead pursue righteous living, faithfulness and peace.

One of my favorite verses is in Psalm 119:5-6 where the psalm writer prays, “Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect Your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands.”

Is it the desire of your heart to live a life that reflects the commands and instructions of God’s word?

We pursue righteous living by actively seeking out God’s will and instructions for living in His Word and actually obeying what it says. (James 1:22-25) God’s Word teaches us truth. It corrects the areas in our lives that are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

3. Surround yourself with people that are pursuing Jesus the way you are.

…Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

Community is everything.

Have you ever noticed when influential people such as entertainers or athletes are asked what advice they’d give to people who want to be successful like they are, they often answer “surround yourself with positive people?”

The kind of people you surround yourself with makes a huge difference in becoming the kind of person you want to be and achieving the goals you have for your life. The same is true for your faith.

Throughout the Bible, we see that God places community around us so we can encourage one another, pray for one another, keep each other accountable to God’s ways and learn His Word together.

Do you have a core group of friends, church community, mentors etc. in your life that will encourage you in your walk with Jesus? Do you have friends who will help provoke you to love for God and people, and to live a life that pleases God? (Hebrews 10:24-25)

If you need these kinds of people in your life, ask God to bring them to you. If you do have them, make sure you are prioritizing and investing in those relationships and intentionally pursuing Jesus together.

Let’s lean in to Jesus’ call to righteousness afresh today.  He empowers us and teaches us through His Word so that we can actually do it.

Your Turn: Think and pray about this: Have you wholeheartedly devoted yourself to Jesus’ call for His followers to pursue a righteous life?  If not, what’s the first step you can take toward pursuing righteous living with the help of Jesus? Discuss this post in the comments below.

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