Generous Justice

I am reading Tim Keller’s new book; “Generous Justice” and what a wonderful, yet challenging read. This book is convicting while at the same time very encouraging. Keller explains that while we have been made just by the grace of God; we should out of loving gratitude help to provide justice in the world. Keller early on in the book says; “there is a direct relationship between a person’s grasp and experience of God’s grace, and his or her heart for justice and the poor.”

This book is serving its purpose, it is causing me to examine things, to question, to think, to study and hopefully spurring me to change. I am only half complete in reading this fine work, yet already I am writing about it. I am learning.

Keller does a great job helping us to understand what justice really is from a biblical perspective and explains that there are several sides to a proper understanding. Keller points us to Micah 6:8 which says;

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Keller points out that from this verse there is action; we are to act justly to others, but there is an attitude component as well as we must love mercy. Keller says then to humbly walk with God we must do justice out of merciful love. So, once we have the attitude perspective we can then move on to what exactly is doing justice?

In Hebrew there are two words used for justice the first is mishpat and it means providing care for the vulnerable no matter what that care might be; many places in the bible mishpat is used to describe taking up the care and cause of widows, orphans, immigrants and the poor. But wait; there is another side to justice. Keller points out that there is a second Hebrew word that can be translated as being just or being righteous; tzadeqah. This word refers to having a life of right relationships.

Keller points out that Bible scholar Alec Motyer defines this as “being right with God and therefore committed to putting right all other relationships in life…when most modern people see the word righteousness in the Bible, they tend to think of it in terms of private morality…But in the Bible tzadeqah refers to day-to-day living in which a person conducts all relationships in family and society with fairness, generosity and equity.”

So for now that is the challenge for me; to examine my relationships; all my relationships to look for fairness, generosity and equity. Again, very convicting yet somehow so encouraging. There is so much more to this book…I dare you to read it.

Grace and Peace!

Strengthen

You know human nature is a funny thing – not a humorous thing (although it can be that), but a strange thing. At times I find myself becoming so self-reliant that I wear myself out with my efforts, with my worry. I find myself so consumed with being self strengthening that I forget where my strength comes from; I become so stubborn about my strength that I am reluctant to ask for help from the source of my strength.

I read somewhere that the word stubborn is defined as tenaciously unwilling, or marked by an unwillingness to yield. Is that the lesson for me (us); not to allow our stubbornness to make us tenaciously unwilling or unwilling to yield to our maker?

Recently in a morning devotional I was reading Isaiah 41:10;

10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Of this verse, Spurgeon says; (and I paraphrase/modernize) "God has a strong reserve with which to discharge this engagement for He is able to do all things. The same God who directs the earth in orbit, who feeds the burning furnace of the sun, and trims the lights of heaven, has promised to supply us with daily strength."

Isn’t that so comforting; a promise from God to supply us with daily strength. The God, who hung the stars and the moon; who by His very breath created all things cares that much about each one of us. It is simply amazing to me.

May we all know the He is with us and will uphold us. In the words of E. V. - trust Him!

Grace and Peace!

Trust Him

Happy New Year all! The older I get the faster the years seem to flash by. As I reflect on 2010 much has occurred in my life; many great blessings. I have seen spiritual growth in my own life, job, family, friends; again many, many blessings. Yet, I have seen great suffering; the death of a friend’s mother, my father’s failing health, a friends marriage in jeopardy, economic suffering.

I recently heard a sermon by Pastor E. V. Hill; a sermon delivered years ago at his wife’s funeral. I was amazed, I was overwhelmed, I was encouraged. It was an amazing testimony of faith. He built the sermon around Job 1:21;

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.

Oh, how heartfelt it was to hear this man speak of his loving wife, her years of support, affection, and love. With her in his life it must have been easy to praise the name of the Lord. Now however, she has been taken away and still we are called to praise the name of the Lord.

This was truly a message of faith. What came shining through for me was sometimes in life God just tells us to trust him; even when it doesn't make sense. Maybe that will help us all today and as we go forward into 2011...trust Him, trust Him, trust Him! Amen.

I will end this feeble effort with Psalm 143:8;

8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

May we all have faith in the unfailing love of our Savior, may we all have faith in the way we should go and may we all entrust our very lives to Him.

Grace and Peace!