Tag-Archive for » justice «

Rescue Me

16
Feb 2010
By Andy

Scripture:

Psalm 25:16-26:3 “Turn to me and have mercy on me, for I am alone and in deep distress. My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all! Feel my pain and see my trouble. Forgive all my sins. See how many enemies I have, and how viciously they hate me! Protect me! Rescue my life from them! Do not let me be disgraced, for I trust in you. May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you. Declare me innocent, O Lord, for I have acted with integrity; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and affections. For I am constantly aware of your unfailing love, and I have lived according to your truth.”

Observation:

Last week was a difficult week. Not last Wednesday, but the Wednesday before, we started our commitment to move Jenna out of our bed. It meant 1 to 2 hour long fights in the middle of the night and by the beginning of last week both Nicole and I were exhausted. Although my present pain is always more difficult than my past pain, last week felt more tiring than any time since Jenna was born.

This is my first journal entry since two Fridays ago – it feels good to be doing this again, and this passage is a good reminder of Scripture’s relevancy to my life. Toward the end of last week I had a conversation that, after thinking and praying, makes me identify with David’s prayer, though not with quite so much passion. I think I’d write something more like

Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in distress. Oh, save me from them all! Forgive my sins. See the misplaced frustration of my friends. Protect me! Rescue my integrity from them. Do not let me be disgraced, for I trust in you. May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you. Declare me innocent, O Lord, for I have acted with integrity. Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives. I am constantly in need of your unfailing love, and I try to live according to your truth.

Initially I wasn’t going to include vs 26:3 – “I am constantly aware of your unfailing love,” but it’s good to remember and helps put things in perspective.

Application:

I think the best thing I can do right now is to hold on to trusting in God. I don’t know how things are going to play out, but I can rely on God’s unfailing love.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for meeting with me. I missed this time last week. I pray the prayer above; declare me innocent, O Lord, for I have acted with integrity.

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Justice is Sure

05
Oct 2009
By Andy

Scripture:

Esther 4:14 [Mordecai to Ester] “If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance for the Jews will arise from some other place.”

Luke 18:1-8 – The parable of the persistent widow – vs. 7 “God will surely give justice to his chosen people who plead with Him day and night”

Observation:

The faith Mordecai shows in this verse is at a bit of a contrast to his deep grief and mourning earlier in this chapter, but he collects himself and takes this stance: “Deliverance for the Jews will arise.”  Who knows what would’ve happened to affect the plot Haman had laid out for the Jews – whatever it was, Mordecai had faith that God would rescue them.  Maybe not even Mordecai himself, but his people.

Application:

As much as I struggle with “the power of prayer,” This teaching is not difficult for me to accept (Lord, help me with the ones that are): the God of the universe is a God of justice.  When faced with injustices, I can be steadfast in my faith, knowing that God will make right every wrong.

Prayer:

Lord, in some ways I guess I think that when “bad things happen to good people,” it’s unjust.  That strikes me as a somewhat small thought when I lay it out in front of me, but it gives me hope none-the-less that those people have a special reward awaiting them in heaven.  Have patience with my faith and continue to teach me.  I love you Lord.

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Cleanliness in Offering

28
Sep 2009
By Andy

Scripture:

Luke 11:39-41 “Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.”

Observation:

I think today this would look like sitting down and immediately eating without washing your hands and praying before the meal.  Jesus was looking for this conversation.  What throws me off is that the thing he identifies as unclean about them is that they “neglect justice and the love of God.”  It’s as if he’s telling them “you talk too much.”  In order to be clean, they need to give to the poor.  Not a particularly complex command.

Application:

Embarrassingly there is no meaningful area of my life which intersects with the poor or oppressed.   That ought to change.

Prayer:

Lord – help me figure out what that looks like for our family.

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It’s Almost Time

28
Jul 2009
By Andy

Scripture:

Isaiah 56:1 “This is what the Lord says:  Be just and fair to all.  Do what is right and good, for I am coming soon to rescue you and to display my righteousness among you.”

Observation:

Perspective is such a valuable tool in our moral and spiritual development.  When we are able to evaluate a situation against God’s context, criteria, and character, it makes room for love, for forgiveness, and for peace.  So when we consider that he is “coming soon to rescue” us, it makes it easy to “temporarily” humble and sacrifice oneself for the sake of justice, righteousness, and goodness.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for offering us your perspective, please help me be mindful of your context, your criteria, and your character when I assess and respond to situations.

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Just and Equal

21
May 2009
By Andy

Scripture:

Psalms 98: 4, 9 “Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy!  For the Lord is coming to judge the earth.  He will judge the world with justice, and the people with equity.” (NLT/NASB)

Observation:

This verse connects me to yesterday’s reading and reminds me (again) that the message of Judgement is not a message of death … it is redemption!  Of course, the perpetrator is never as fond of the process as the victim, and part of salvation is recognizing we’re all guilty – but that is what makes salvation so incredible!  There is a pardon, but it doesn’t just release you back into the life that lead you to “court” – it invites you to heaven!  For the victims of the world – which are many – the message of judgement is one of justice!  The inequities against you in this life will be righted in the next.  So for all of the guilty, as well as the victim judgement and salvation (if we’ll receive it) are cause to “break out in praise and sing for joy.”

Prayer:

Thank you Lord for judging with justice and equity, and thank you for the salvation you offer to the guilty.

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