THOUGHT: Because of Jesus, we have the ability to obey the Lord. He gives us the strength to stand up to difficulties, and to do right when it seems like no one else around us is. He is the source of all good within us, and we can rejoice in the fact that He will help us to remain on the path of righteousness as long as we are invested in having a relationship with Him. The Lord Our Righteousness, is a sweet name to call upon.

One reason the name is particularly sweet is that it recognizes our need for someone else to stand in our place and then reminds us that Jesus already has. As soon as we recognize our need for Jesus, He comes down and saves us. There is no doubt that receiving is a good thing,  but Jesus taught that it was a greater blessing to be a giver. We often devalue opportunities to help, mentor, and invest in others to help them become all that God wants them to be. It's an incredible feeling to know that someone cares about us, enough that he or she is willing to invest precious time in our lives.

Many people have experienced the privilege of gleaning wisdom from older believers. Their insight and godly advice can have an enormous impact on our lives. When we, in turn, share with others, we are helping them understand the love and care God has for us. Giving to others allows us to show our gratitude that people took the time to give to us. You reap whatever you plant. Treat people how you want to be treated. God sees our ulterior motives in all that we do. 

                                                                                                                                              By Michael Youssef