And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.
Isaiah 32:17

Effect and result are two aspects of what comes from living right. I think of “effect” as being more immediate, and “result” as being the long-term fruit of doing things God’s way, but it might just be a parallelism, two ways of saying the same thing to get the point across.

It wil help us to understand what we’re talking about here if we consider the opposite effect and result: the effect of living wrong is immediately chaos and conflict, and the long term result a home filled with shouting, accusations, suspicions, and all trust destroyed.

Righteousness - living God’s way - brings peace, quietness and trust to my home, my marriage, my family life, and my community.

And the results aren’t only for this life: the word “forever” is God’s promise for beyond this life on earth. Peace, quietness and trust, mine forever.

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Psalm 32:1-2

By His grace I’m forgiven, healed, blessed, and brought into a life of peace, quietness and trust that will be mine forever.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for making all this mine. Lord, let me live fully in it, today. Amen!

Pastor Dan Giles