What is Just?

"See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice." - Isaiah 32:1

A simple response to the question: "What is just?" could be something like - To be just is to be fair and unbiased. It is to judge everyone with the same measuring stick.

However, how many times have we found ourselves saying?: That is unfair! Life is unfair!

We can't change the way other people judge us or view us, but we can rely on the Messiah to treat us all with righteousness and justice. Matthew proclaimed this of Jesus when he said: 

“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations." (Matthew 12:18)

How can we respond to this knowledge today?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Tough questions to answer

As we get older we soon realise that there are so many experiences that we have witnessed. Some of these are good, while others are heart-breaking and difficult. As Solomon gets to the end of his life he reflects on some issues that remain a mystery to all of us. The first one he mentions today is still one that has me scratching my head at times - why do some evil people seem to prosper and then some righteous people suffer so much?

"In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these:
the righteous perishing in their righteousness,
and the wicked living long in their wickedness.

Do not be over righteous,
neither be over wise—
why destroy yourself?

Do not be over wicked,
and do not be a fool—
why die before your time?

It is good to grasp the one
and not let go of the other.
Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes." - Ecclesiastes 7:15-18

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Enough is Enough - Ezekiel 45

 

“‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You have gone far enough, princes of Israel! Give up your violence and oppression and do what is just and right. Stop dispossessing my people, declares the Sovereign Lord. - Ezekiel 45:9

God is patient by nature, but even the Lord has limits. In today's reading we see how God reprimands the princes of Israel telling them that they have gone too far. Enough is Enough, the Lord says. He urges them to stop oppressing the innocent and to start doing what is JUST and RIGHT. 

I wonder if this is not a timeous word for all our politicians as we inch closer towards the Elections? Enough is enough! God (and the people) are tired of the greed and selfishness of the 'princes' of our nation and it is time to start acting with Justice and Righteousness.

What do you think?

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Grace reaches further

"Thankfully, while our self-righteousness reaches far, God's grace reaches further." - Tullian Tchividjian

The church can only offer so much grace, before we become self-righteous and lose sight of the gift God gave to us. It is a sad reality, but our spiritual blindness can cause pain for others. THANKFULLY, what we should be offering others, is not the church (per se), but rather JESUS. It is when we discover the grace of Christ, that our lives are transformed. We then get to work out our salvation in the body of Christ. The church can't be perfect (yet), because we are still sinners in need of change. One day, the 'Bride' of Christ (the Church), will be made whole and perfect.

So, remember this today:
Our religion can only reach up to a certain point - That is when God's grace takes over.

"Because of his kindness, you have been saved through trusting Christ. And even trusting is not of yourselves; it too is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good we have done, so none of us can take any credit for it" - Ephesians 2:8-9

1 Corinthians 15:10 - "But whatever I am now it is all because God poured out such kindness and grace upon me."

What do you think about that?

Living in Grace
D3LM3