Higher-Self Realities

Today, I’d like to talk to you about, “The Power of Righteous Identification.” The reflection is based on the following Scripture: “Open to me the gates of righteousness. I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD. This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter” (Psalm 118:19-20).

God has given us unlimited access to all His benefits. This access is signified by what the Bible calls, “the gates of righteousness.” Beyond these gates lie untold divine treasures – representing your birthright as God’s child.

These gates don’t open automatically, though. It’s an exclusive club and admission is granted to members only. The good news is that everyone is a member by virtue of being God’s offspring. However, when members want to enter the gates of righteousness, they’re required to show proper identification, otherwise the gates will remain shut.

There’s a reason the gates are called gates of righteousness. The gates open only to those who identify themselves as God’s righteousness. To inherit the blessings of God, we must be as righteous as God is. This rules out self-righteousness, and God alone becomes our righteousness.

Admission through the gates of righteousness can be illustrated with the following story (fictional characters). Alice approaches and announces herself as follows: “My name is Alice, and I AM God’s righteousness.” The gates open, and the attendant says, “Come in, Alice. Everything God has is yours. Help yourself.”

Then comes Bob, who identifies himself thus: “My name is Bob, and I hold a PhD in Theology and a Master’s in Bible Psychology. I live a clean life.” “Wrong identification, sir. Please try again,” the attendant tells Bob. After two hours of unsuccessful attempts, Bob sees Alice coming out with smiles and he asks about her secret. Alice tells him, at which point Bob gets the password right and the gates finally open.

You get the point.

When Jacob wanted to receive the firstborn blessing, he had to appear with the identity of Esau because the blessing was for the firstborn, and Jacob wasn’t the firstborn. Although earlier Esau had sold his birthright (Genesis 25:30-34), Isaac – their father, and imparter of the blessing – wasn’t party to the agreement and, therefore, as far as he was concerned, it wasn’t binding.

So, Rebecca crafted a clever plan. The only way Jacob was going to inherit the firstborn blessing was for him to appropriate Esau’s identity and declare that he (Jacob) indeed was the firstborn.

There’s an important revelation in the Jacob story.

If you want God to take you seriously, you must identify yourself correctly. If you want access to God’s benefits, you need to use God’s identity because it’s the only identity that has value and authority in His eyes.

When you appear before God, here’s what you say: “I AM your firstborn, and You are my righteousness.” Resolve, therefore, to have no other righteousness but God’s. This is your key to the kingdom gates.

With love and blessings

Stevve