I’ve often thought, rather than learning to bless those who curse me, perhaps it would be better if God just dispensed some of that Justice He is so good at. Really, don’t you cry out for justice? Isn’t that one of the reasons it is so difficult to bless someone who has done you harm? You’d rather there be justice. Quick, severe and absolute.
When I tire of being the punching bag and when the mayhem de-jour is served up in the nightly news-I cry out to God for justice. God where are you, send your justice. God are you uncaring-how could you let this go unpunished, you are just aren’t you? Then send justice.And God says to me-alright, Brian---
where would you like me to start with this dispensing of justice?
Should I start with you?
Maybe I should start with your children?
Should I begin with your closest friends, perhaps their children?
Should I go all the way back to Adam?
Would that be a good place to start and put an end to all of this?
Suddenly my cry is no longer for justice-but for mercy. Mercy from an infinitely good and competent God who is nothing like the God described by the mean spirited, condemning Pharisees around us. The ones who know exactly which human beings will end up where at the end of the age. Yes, mercy, oh My Father.It somehow makes it more appealing to learn how to bless those who curse you, let it go and shower on them forgiveness. After all forgiveness is the language of the Kingdom.
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I'm loving that you are blogging again. Thank you. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's encouraging to see/hear you encouraging us to always be moving forward in Christ. To remember that His great mercy has been poured out on us, and so we desire Him to continue pouring out His great mercy and kindness on us all!
What if we would allow the goodness and kindness and love and mercy of the great King of the universe to wash over us and infuse us with Himself as we are molded and transformed into His image? What if we were to embrace His heart for the world and it's full restoration as our own? Would that be safe? Would that be good? Would His light "so shine before men that they would see our good works and glorify" Him? Would we then actually want to bless and not curse those who curse us?
Thank you for continually calling us, through message and example, to cling to Jesus as our master. May we become fervent disciples ourselves as we seek to make disciples, who will make disciples, who will make disciples.........