On Monday of this week, we, in the United States, celebrated Independence Day. This was, and is, a time to recognize (among many features of liberty) a rule of law of, by and for the people. I thank God for such a freedom from tyranny this brings to us.
Yet, one day later, on Tuesday of this same week, hundreds, thousands, maybe millions of our citizens have become a virtual "lynching mob." How quickly we forget that we are governed by a system of justice that includes a due process for all. Yes, for all--the guilty and the innocent.
No, this system is not perfect--primarily because we are not. Sometimes the guilty go free. Sometimes the innocent may be punished unjustly. Occasionally, there are factors, such as politics, money and popularity, that may influence the outcome of this process. But this fact does not warrant our falling back on mob rule. As citizens of this great country, we need to recognize both our blessings and our fallibilities.
As Christians (if indeed we claim to be) we must carry our thinking, and our acting, even further. This world is tainted by sin. Even under the best systems of justice, or within the country of the greatest freedoms, this world is not our home. We are truly citizens of another Kingdom.
And, as such, we can rest assured that God, Himself, will mete out perfect justice. The guilty will be punished. The innocent will be recognized as being not guilty. The death of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, has made redemption possible for all--yes, even those who take the lives of little children. Nor does God forget or neglect the children themselves.
It is our responsibility to pray for them and to ask God's help for all involved--criminals and victims--whoever they may be.
Join with me in interceding and letting God do the judging.
I welcome your comments below.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
ELIJAH AND THE WIDOW
Since early childhood, Elijah has held a "favorite" status for me in Bible stories. I wonder just how many times I've relived the events in the life of this brazen man of God.
Elijah was the character to whom Jesus likened John the Baptist. (Matthew 11:14) He "faced down" Ahab, king of Israel. See Chapter 18, verses 16-20 of I Kings. Single handed, he taunted 450 prophets of Baal when their prayers for fire on their sacrifices went unanswered. Same Chapter, verses 26-29.
Earlier this week, I reread the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, I Kings 17:7-24. Each time I was told, or read, a Bible story that included Elijah, my imagination was always about this "larger than life" prophet. That is, until this last time.
This time the widow caught my attention. There appeared to be no end of the lessons we could learn from this unfortunate woman. Her husband, and source of income, was deceased. A young child was all she had left of family, with no apparent means of sustaining their lives. One more meal was all she had left.
God saw two needs, over 100 miles apart. Near Tishbe, east of the Jordon River, Elijah was being fed by ravens when the brook dried up. The widow was in Zarephath on the Mediterranean coast and was in dire straits. He put them together and solved both needs.
When the two first met, Elijah had just arrived in town from the long walk. The widow just so happened to be near the city gate at the same time, picking up sticks for a fire to cook her last meal. How like God to plan so precisely!
Elijah asked the widow to get him a drink of water. Immediately she went to draw the water from the well. Most of us would, in all probability, have started voicing our complaints, bemoaning our condition. Not this woman! She was willing to be of service to a total stranger.
Before she could get to the well, Elijah also requested a piece of bread. There was no bread at her house, she explained. All she had was a handful of flour (NIV), or, a handful of meal (KJV). That, with a little oil, she could whip up a biscuit or a piece of corn bread. There just wasn't enough to share.
Then Elijah spoke as a prophet of God. "Make me some first and then some for you and the boy. God says neither your flour nor oil will give out until the drought is over." (verses 13-14 paraphrased). People who trust the Lord act upon His Word. She trusted and acted. God proved Himself trustworthy.
I Kings 17:17-24 relates the event of the widow's young son becoming ill and dying. When the mother brought her dead child to the man of God, he called on God to bring him back to life. After God gave the child his life again, Elijah presented him to his mother alive and well.
Verse 24 of this chapter shows the faith that was confirmed in the Word of the Lord. The last verse of I Kings, chapter 17 reads that "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth." (NIV)
God uses what we have to meet needs (ours and other's, physical and spiritual)
Elijah was the character to whom Jesus likened John the Baptist. (Matthew 11:14) He "faced down" Ahab, king of Israel. See Chapter 18, verses 16-20 of I Kings. Single handed, he taunted 450 prophets of Baal when their prayers for fire on their sacrifices went unanswered. Same Chapter, verses 26-29.
Earlier this week, I reread the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, I Kings 17:7-24. Each time I was told, or read, a Bible story that included Elijah, my imagination was always about this "larger than life" prophet. That is, until this last time.
This time the widow caught my attention. There appeared to be no end of the lessons we could learn from this unfortunate woman. Her husband, and source of income, was deceased. A young child was all she had left of family, with no apparent means of sustaining their lives. One more meal was all she had left.
God saw two needs, over 100 miles apart. Near Tishbe, east of the Jordon River, Elijah was being fed by ravens when the brook dried up. The widow was in Zarephath on the Mediterranean coast and was in dire straits. He put them together and solved both needs.
When the two first met, Elijah had just arrived in town from the long walk. The widow just so happened to be near the city gate at the same time, picking up sticks for a fire to cook her last meal. How like God to plan so precisely!
Elijah asked the widow to get him a drink of water. Immediately she went to draw the water from the well. Most of us would, in all probability, have started voicing our complaints, bemoaning our condition. Not this woman! She was willing to be of service to a total stranger.
Before she could get to the well, Elijah also requested a piece of bread. There was no bread at her house, she explained. All she had was a handful of flour (NIV), or, a handful of meal (KJV). That, with a little oil, she could whip up a biscuit or a piece of corn bread. There just wasn't enough to share.
Then Elijah spoke as a prophet of God. "Make me some first and then some for you and the boy. God says neither your flour nor oil will give out until the drought is over." (verses 13-14 paraphrased). People who trust the Lord act upon His Word. She trusted and acted. God proved Himself trustworthy.
I Kings 17:17-24 relates the event of the widow's young son becoming ill and dying. When the mother brought her dead child to the man of God, he called on God to bring him back to life. After God gave the child his life again, Elijah presented him to his mother alive and well.
Verse 24 of this chapter shows the faith that was confirmed in the Word of the Lord. The last verse of I Kings, chapter 17 reads that "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth." (NIV)
God uses what we have to meet needs (ours and other's, physical and spiritual)
- When we are willing to serve others;
- When we are willing to trust and obey; and
- When we are willing to share.
How many promises do you see being fulfilled in this scripture?
How often have you trusted and obeyed in spite of your needs?
How frequently have you found God to be ready to "supply all your needs, according to His riches in glory, by Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 4:19, KJV)
Share your experiences with us of how God has met your needs in the worst times in the comment section below.
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