RIGHTEOUSNESS IMPUTED
“And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done.” II Kings 18:3 NKJV
The phrase “he did what was right in the sight of the Lord” appears around 15–20 times in the Old Testament, often describing the moral and spiritual character of Israel’s kings. It speaks more of faithfulness than perfection.
Men like Asa, Hezekiah, and Josiah were commended with this phrase, yet Scripture does not hide their failures. Still, their mistakes did not annul their standing before God. Why? Because God, who sees the heart, esteems sincere devotion over unbroken performance. This points to a profound truth about grace. For them, righteousness was a shadow cast forward; for us, it is the substance fulfilled in Christ.
As Paul writes in Romans 7:22–23, though he delights in God’s law, he finds no strength within himself to carry it out. So it was with these kings—yet in their earnest desire to obey, God found righteousness. How much more, then, is righteousness imputed to you who are in Christ? Not on the basis of what you can do, but what He has already done. God requires nothing of us that He has not already provided in His Son. He gives what He commands, and accepts what He gives.
Selah.
Prayer: My Father, Thank You for the righteousness that is not earned but freely given through Your Son. I rest not in my efforts, but in Christ’s finished work. I am taught of your spirit to walk in sincerity, to desire what is right, and to trust in what You have already accomplished. I live each day with quiet confidence in Your acceptance and joyful gratitude for Your mercy, to the glory of your name. Amen!
CI.
RELATED RESOURCES
• Philippians 4:13
• Romans 7:15
• Philippians 2:13
