January 14, 2026 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Proverbs
Proverbs 12:26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
Proverbs 12:28 In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.
The way of the righteous and the path of the righteous and the excellency of the righteous is portrayed in two verses here.
What exactly is righteousness?
Psalm 4:1 To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness:…
Isaiah 45:24 Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength:…
Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
From the Old Testament to the New Testament we find righteousness only comes from God and that through the Lord Jesus Christ.
To be righteous is to be in Christ Jesus, outside of that there is only self righteousness. Self righteousness is relying only on ones self for righteousness. It is when one trusts in himself or herself to be saved. Self righteousness is one saying if “I” get baptized, or if “I” take communion, or if “I” do this or that “I” will be saved.
God says that is not possible; you cannot save yourself by self righteousness.
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
We know righteousness comes from God. That is called positional righteousness. There is also practical righteousness.
Noah Webster gives us the full definition of righteousness.
1.Purity of heart and rectitude of life; conformity of heart and life to the divine law. righteousness as used in Scripture and theology, in which it is chiefly used, is nearly equivalent to holiness, comprehending holy principles and affections of heart, and conformity of life to the divine law. It includes all we call justice, honesty and virtue, with holy affections; in short, it is true religion.
2. Applied to God, the perfection or holiness of his nature; exact rectitude; faithfulness.
3. The active and passive obedience of Christ, by which the law of God is fulfilled. Daniel 9:7.
4. Justice; equity between man and man. Luke 1:75.
5. The cause of our justification.
The Lord our righteousness Jeremiah 23:6.
Let’s look at our text again. Proverbs 12:26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
The righteous can be seduced into practical unrighteousness. In others words, the Christian can be seduced into living an unrighteous life.
Proverbs 12:28 In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.
Positional righteousness (Which is what true believers have) is life in Christ Jesus and there is no death only eternal life. Christian’s who live in unrighteousness can bring death upon themselves, the death of the body, not eternal death.
1John 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. 17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. (A sin not unto death is confessed sin. 1 John 1:9)
The believer can be seduced and live in unrighteousness to the point where the Lord will say, that is enough, and take him from this life and move him to heaven. I remember doing things as a child that my parents did not like. When they found out, I was grounded in the house. Christian, if you are living in sin, God may have to ground you.
Make sure you positional righteousness and your practical righteousness match. Don’t be seduced.
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
