# Be Ready - Monday, 2025.12.08 ## What is Righteousness? Matthew said that Joseph was a "righteous man." But what is righteousness? What does it look like to be "righteous?" How does one become righteous? There seems to be a lot in the Bible about the "pursuit of righteousness." For example: - Isaiah 26.9 - Seeking God is a step in the process to learn righteousness - Another "step" is embracing God's judgements on the earth - Matthew 5.6 -- Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. There are rewards: - Matthew 5.10 -- Jesus promised rewards for being persecuted for righteousness - Matthew 6.33 -- God will reward us if we seek first His kingdom and righteousness The gospel, faith and righteousness: - Romans 1.17 -- For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” I want to add one more thing: - Matthew 5.48 -- Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. We just scratched the surface on righteousness. But I can honestly say, "I ain't perfect and I ain't righteousness!!!" Therefore: I NEED JESUS!!!! How about you?? ### Matthew 1.18-21 (BSB) This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly. But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”