Justice and Mercy

When the judicial system fails to meet our standards for justice, we are frustrated, especially when we have been personally impacted by the crime. Protestors often flood the streets with marches and signs when a verdict is deemed unjust. However, we have a completely different view when we are the offenders. Then, we want mercy and understanding.

Psalm 145:9 says, “The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.” When someone offends us, we demand justice. When we offend others, we want mercy. God is able to be just and merciful at the same time and at all times. Given that we are often prone to reject God and thus sin, we must be thankful that His mercy is over us.

Sovereign

Lately, I have heard a lot about people claiming to be sovereign citizens when faced with law enforcement. Unfortunately for them, the courts have consistently held that these sovereign citizens are still subject to the laws of this country, its states, and its cities. Just because we may reject some authorities, it doesn’t mean we are still subject to governmental law enforcement.

In I Samuel 8, the elders of Israel gathered together with Samuel and asked Samuel to appoint a king “to judge us like all the nations.” Samuel was not pleased, but God told him, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.” We may reject God’s rule over our lives, but He is never dethroned. He remains King over all. But we may lose the benefits of submitting to His rule.

Regrettable Words

Many times, I have spoken but later regretted either the words that I said or the way that I had said them. Other times, I have regretted speaking words that inflamed or did not speak the whole truth. I am not sure what I expect to happen at these times but it is never what I intended to be the outcome.

Isaiah 55:11 says, “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” God is always faithful to His words. He never declares something and later regrets what He has said. His words will always accomplish what He has designed for them to do. Therefore, we can always trust in His words, especially His promises.

What Shall We Hear?

When people are trying to determine who did what, they must really seek only the truth. Whether it is the judicial system or a parent, we want witnesses and participants to speak the truth. We mustn’t put people in the position of speaking what they think that we want to hear.

I Kings 22:15-16 says, “And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, ‘Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?’ And he answered him, ‘Go up and triumph; the LORD will give it into the hand of the king.’ But the king said to him, ‘How many times shall I make you swear that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?'” Micaiah initially spoke what all the false prophets had told the king to comfort the king. The king saw right through Micaiah’s act and demanded that Micaiah speak the true message from the LORD. We must always speak the truth from God and not be swayed to appease the worldly.

Useless Gifts

A family excitedly gathers around the Christmas tree on Christmas morning. Each one notices that no gifts are under the tree. Mom tells her son that she had bought him a new bicycle but decided to keep it for herself. The daughter tells her mom that she had found a beautiful bouquet of flowers for the mom but decided that the flowers looked very good in her own room. The father explains to his daughter that he had crafted a wonderful doll house for her but decided that the quality was so good that he could sell it for a good price. The son tells his father that he had purchased an expensive watch for his father but had lost it on the way home from the store. If true, this story would be about the saddest Christmas that I have ever heard. Ungiven gifts are not really gifts at all.

Proverbs 25:14 says, “Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.” Through His grace, God has given each of us gifts. Some gifts are the talents and abilities He gives us. Other gifts include physical resources and loving relationships. He gives us these gifts so that we will honor Him in praise, but also so that we can benefit others by using our gifts to serve them.