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Topic: No Shame In Righteousness
[DCLM Daily Manna 23 August 2020 Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
Text: Psalm 119:1-8 (KJV)
1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
Key Verse: “Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all Thy commandments.” – (Psalm 119:6)
MESSAGE:
We live in an evil dominated world where all forms of unrighteousness are projected and celebrated. People commit all sorts of atrocities without any shame. Those days when people seemed to cherish a good name and protect family pride and integrity appear to have been forgotten. Instead, immorality, nudity, promiscuity, cheating, dishonesty, etc., are all esteemed under the guise of being smart, civilised and exposed.
Our passage today is instructive. Instead of feeling dejected and hanging our heads low, the psalmist makes it clear that the righteous and undefiled are the fortunate ones. They are blessed, favoured and happy. He makes a personal commitment to continue to have respect to the words and commandments of the Lord. Doing this is a sure way to stay away from shame and remain happy in life.
We need to have this same understanding and resolve of the psalmist as well. Our world may want to make us feel that holding on to the sound principles of the word of God that promotes chastity, honesty and uprightness is old fashioned and unpopular. But we must understand that that is the very secret of our inner peace and happiness. When we take a closer look at the lives of those given to recklessness and sinfulness, we see how empty and unfulfilled they are.
Never mind if you seem to be the only upright one in your family, community, place of work or business. Do not be moved if they call you names. The truth really is that they envy your life secretly and wish they can be like you! Let your life remain radiant and hold dearly to the principles of the word of God. Righteousness does not make anyone ashamed; rather, it dignifies. Remain righteous and be happy.
Thought For The Day: Righteousness dignifies.
The Bible In One Year: Psalm 19-23
