Seeking God's Righteousness
We are confident that God is answering our prayers. Every day of every week of every month, we are praying for you. Not that it is
the amount of time that matters, but we want you to know you are on our minds and hearts continually. Even though the “answer”
may seem slow in coming, we are sure that your answer is coming as we are sure that God is faithful. GEMinistries has 2 main
purposes. First, we are to reach out to the community through the arts and touch them with the love of Jesus. Second, we are to
pray with and intercede for the needs of our partners. This letter is a major part of our prayer for you. Dedicated to being brief, we
work hard to find the Word of the Lord for you and form a concise message that doesn’t consume your entire day.
Romans chapter 10 is as pertinent to today’s struggles as it was for Paul in A.D. 56. Many people still have the traditional thought
of establishing their own righteousness, in the hopes of pleasing God rather than . . . seeking His righteousness. [Romans 10:
3] Paul refers to them as ignorant, [i.e. not at all stupid, but lacking the proper teaching.] “For Christ is the end of the law for
righteousness to everyone who believes.” [Romans 10:4] Jesus Christ is the fulfillment for the Law, being the perfect sacrifice for
our disobedience. Because of that, we now please God by having faith in what Jesus did. We are saved by Grace and free from
debt to the Law. [Before anyone thinks they can now act however they want; Faith works by love and walking in love is a lifestyle
that desires not to sin]
Now that we have a better “lifestyle” we are to speak about it. “But the righteousness of faith speaks. . . [Romans 10:6] If we
really understand the peace giving, stressed reducing, anger eliminating, healing gift we have been given, why wouldn’t we talk
about it and share it with others? We don’t even have to figure out some clever way of saying it, “The word is near you, in your
heart and in your mouth.” [Romans 10:8] If we just speak with a heart of compassion, the Holy Spirit will teach us what to say.
[seeLuke12:12] That seems pretty easy . . . just like when we “confessed with our mouths the Lord Jesus and believed in our
hearts God raised Him from the dead – we were saved!” [Romans 10:9 paraphrased]
Now, this is what the Lord wants you to know and do with His grace gift of righteousness: “Whoever believes on Him shall never
be put to shame.”[Romans 10:11] Notice the verse says to believe on Him not in Him. Being saved into eternal salvation is
when we believed in Him. Believing on Him is a different operation of faith. Believing in Him allows the Holy Spirit, through His
baptism, to take up “residency” with us. Believing on Him is when we use our saving faith, and grow it so that we may build Godly
dreams, desires, and hopes upon the “Rock” of our salvation. God is saying, if we have faith [believe on Him] and if the things we
are believing for are built on that faith, we will succeed [will not be put to shame]. Now start believing on Him with renewed
insight.
Does that mean we will never have a “blue day” and any challenges, problems or struggles? [Nice try, but no] In this earth we
will have tribulations, but God is faithful to make away out, redeem the time, deliver us from the hand of the fowler, quench the
fiery darts, renew our strength like the eagle’s, heal us [and our land] . . . and YES never let us be put to shame. [See John16:33 &
Acts 7:9-10]
Because Yehsua has come and fulfilled all prophecy, we are inheritors and ambassadors of a better covenant with better
promises. [Hebrews 8:6] Our prayer for you is that you receive this understanding deep into your hearts. That you are focused
more on Him, not disregarding your current and changeable circumstances, but allowing your righteous God to change you from
the inside out. We pray that you build on the faith of your salvation to see your great destiny fulfilled, with all your Godly desires
for you, your family, friends and coworkers, in Jesus Name!
Love in Christ,
Gregory and Linda Emler
