"The Just"

"But the just shall live by his faith": Just do it; or is there a little more to it? This word 'just' which is used here in Habakkuk 2:4, is the Hebrew word 'Tsaddiq': It means just, lawful, righteous, honest, right. Psalms 145:17 says, "The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works." God Himself is the standard of ethics and morality; it is part of His very nature and will. Only God is completely just in all His ways; man will always fall short, no matter how hard he may try. However, this word also describes an ordinary man who is honest with other men, and obedient to the laws of God. In verse 2:20, Habakkuk had come to realize that we are not to question the ways of God: "But the Lord is in His holy temple: Let all the earth keep silence before Him." This is a principle that is really hard to live out in our daily lives, because when you really think about it, and are honest with yourself; you will realize just how much you question what God is doing, or allowing to be done in your life. It is when we question God's work openly, that we really need to be attentive to our hearts; because it is in those moments that the people who are watching our lives will take notice. And guess what: In those moments are when the real you is revealed; that would be the you that doubts, and questions the ways of God. So, if you are trying to instruct your children, or anyone else, in the need to put all of their faith in God, then you you must be very mindful of what is in your own heart before you speak. Did you notice what I said? Okay: Sometimes we need to hold back from speaking what is upon our hearts, because sometimes our hearts are weary and full of doubt. So; when we say things like: 'I am worried about what is going to happen'; then those watching our lives will take notice of that little statement; and if those watching are your children, then they will doubt with you, but to a greater degree. Why is that? Because, they are looking to you for your spiritual leadership in how to trust God in all things; and when you doubt God, then they will doubt God alongside of you, but they will also doubt you, and your spiritual leadership. It is best to keep silent for the moment, if those things which you are feeling in your heart are against God; and I did say, "Against God"; because anytime that we doubt Him, then we are not trusting Him; and when we do not trust God, we sin against Him: Period! "But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and staightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.' (James 1:22-25)