Walking Straight in the Light of God’s Presence
Let’s talk about some words that come up a lot when we read the Bible: right, righteous, and righteousness. These might sound like big, heavy words, but they’re actually pretty simple once we break them down.
What Does “Right” Mean?
To be “right” is to do what’s good, proper, or true. It’s like following the straight path, making choices that fit with what’s fair and honest. Imagine there is a line painted on the ground—when you walk on it, you’re going straight; that’s being right. When you step off and go crooked, that’s wrong. But here’s the thing: as humans, we sometimes think we’re doing the right thing, but we might not have all the facts or we make mistakes. Only God has the perfect standard, and His way is always right.
What Does “Righteous” Mean?
To be righteous is to live according to God’s standards—to do what He says is right, not just what seems right to us. The Bible says a righteous person is someone whose heart is in the right place, who tries to follow God’s ways, and lives out those good intentions. You can think of it as being “lined up” with God’s will, like trying to keep your steps in time with His. This isn’t just about following rules; it’s about having a heart that wants to do what pleases God.
What Is “Righteousness”?
“Righteousness” is a big word for purity of heart and living rightly in God’s eyes. It means loving what is good, being honest, fair, and kind—not just sometimes, but as a way of life. In the Bible, righteousness is a bit like a light that helps us see clearly in a dark world. When we follow God’s path, we walk in the light of His presence, and that lights up not just our own lives, but the world around us.
Why Do These Words Matter?
In the Psalms, we read that “righteousness and justice are the foundation of God’s throne.” This means that everything God does is fair and right. He doesn’t play favorites, and He loves justice. For us, this is good news! If we’re trying to live rightly, God sees and cares. When life gets tough or confusing, we can trust that God is still in charge, and He will set things right in the end.
Sometimes, the world can seem upside down, and we might wonder, “What can good people do when everything feels uncertain?” The answer is to keep trusting God, to keep walking in His light, and to keep living in a way that lines up with His goodness.
Living It Out
So how do we put this into practice? Praise God for who He is. Walk in the light of His presence—meaning, stay close to Him, talk to Him, and try to do what’s good. The Psalms say those who do this are happy and encouraged. God lifts us up when we choose to live rightly, even if the world around us feels dark.
God’s love and truth go ahead of Him; He’s not out to trick or confuse us. He wants us to get in step with His way of doing things. When we do, we shine and bring hope to others.
Final Thoughts
In simple terms, being “right” is about aiming for what is good and true. Being “righteous” is living in harmony with God’s will, following His lead. “Righteousness” is the quality of being pure and just in heart and actions. None of us get it perfect, but God helps us walk the straight path. He becomes our light and our rescue, even when things look dark or scary.
Let’s encourage each other to live in God’s light, to be people who love justice, kindness, and truth. That’s what it means to walk in righteousness—step by step with God, every day.
Minister A Francine Green
August 2025
afrancinegreen.com 