Two years ago today, I found myself overwhelmed with pain and failure, insecurity and anger, devastation and confusion—I stared death right in the face. Emotions that I never knew I had suddenly came out of nowhere.
And now, two years since, I’ve learned. Life throws things your way that you would the least bit expect. Plans suddenly change. Circumstances backfire. Relationships go haywire. Opportunities close.
People die.
That’s reality. Forgive me if this sounds somewhat cynical or apathetic to human suffering—however, the truth is that life is out of our complete control. The moment that you become cynical or jaded is when you remove God as the solution to this dilemma.
We were never meant to be able to handle this life on our own. This false mindset is only created the moment that the redeeming work of Christ is forgotten—when we dismiss the act of justification that was accomplished once He uttered the very words, “It is finished.”
Interestingly, in some insane asylums during the early 1900s, doctors would test their patients to see who was mentally stable enough to be released. They would turn on a faucet in the room that would overflow to the floor, then hand the patient a mop and tell them to mop up all the water. If the patient was well, they would have the sanity to simply turn off the faucet and mop up the spill within a matter of minutes. However, those who were ill would still mop up the floor without the reasoning to turn off the faucet. For hours, even days, they would continue to mop away, working aimlessly in vain.
How very evident this is in the life of a Christian. The moment that you find yourself getting comfortable, and when things begin to make sense as you “mop away senselessly” so-to-speak in a mindset that is set on fulfilling a list of requirements, that is when the lense by which you see reality is shattered, and the Lord breaks down a heart that is so prone to wander by clearly showing you his undeniable truth.
It is a process of handing this mop over to Him—this mop of legalistic righteousness, of good works, of having control over certain aspects in your life. Whatever it may be, you mop away in this puddle of independence that doesn’t dry up, thinking to yourself that a life within your own control is manageable. It is a life in denial of what you know is true—even if that very truth is devastating.
For me, accepting that I had lost one of my friends, one of my disciples, and one of my fellow students was something that I would not hand over. And it wasn’t just coming to grips with the fact that he was gone, but it went even deeper. This anger, this resentment, this bitterness—an ideology of, “You took from me what was mine, how could You?”—all of this was something that I could not let go of or hand over to God.
I could not trust.
Now I don’t write this to get something off my chest or to feel psychologically stable. If that’s the case then there really is no point to this post, and you can stop reading it now.
You see, I miss Brennen Asam, I always will, and frankly that’s the reality of life. But I cannot hold onto what God has, in His sovereignty, chosen to take away. I cannot keep holding onto this mop of resentment, of hurt, of anger.
The question that I challenge you to ask yourself is this: What does He want me to hand over? It is not a question of whether or not you have something to hand over, but realizing that you are holding onto a mop, whatever it may be, and He wants to take it from you. The challenge, then, is to understand what it is.
The legacy that Brennen has left on my life is something that I would never trade. It has cost me, but the reward—the closeness that it has brought me to Christ, to others, the deeper understanding of His love, and the patience and compassion that it has given me for those who hurt—the change it has brought in my heart is invaluable.
The reward for those patients who came to their senses and stopped their mopping meant freedom from the asylum. The reward that He gives, whence we offer up our mops of sin to Him, is freedom from death and the promise of new life.
He has and continues to make all things new. There is no greater hope, peace, and joy than that which is found in Jesus Christ.
For He wounds, but He binds up; He shatters but His hands heal. — Job 5:18
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. — Ephesians 3:20-21
Filed under: Biblical Topics
Do you ever experience moments in your walk with the Lord where you just need a break?
I know I do, and honestly, that’s where I’ve been for the past few weeks.
I’ve been tired. Very tired. And not just spiritually. Emotional and physical exhaustion have taken their toll—in fact, I find that I feel most weak and vulnerable overall when my spiritual life is plummeting downward. In the midst of continual trials and testing of my faith, I have made the custom of doing two things: either I choose to ignore the hardships that come my way because I don’t want to deal with them at the moment, or I do the latter and dwell on my problems, becoming consumed with the mentality that life… well… sucks. Either way, I wind up confused, angry, insecure, and apathetic to the truth. Christianity begins to look ever so dull, and the things of God—the meaning of the cross—become annoyances. I start making excuses that, well… I’ve grown up in a Christian home my whole life, so it kind of becomes repetitious after a while. Not too long after, I develop the mindset that I know what I’m doing—the events and commitments and ministries in my life are decided to with no real consideration or leading from the Lord—I know what’s best for me.
Sadly, I’ve realized the hard way that this is truly not the case.
People fail.
I fail.
Circumstances fail.
I want to show a video that a friend recently shared with me. Maybe for you this will just be another video about someone’s life story, etc. and you walk away unphased. Okay, fine. But maybe this will grab your attention like it did for me.
Zac Smith died on May 16, 2010.
All in all, God is in control, whether I like it or not. That means, for me, there’s more to life than worrying about what college I go to, what job I successfully work in, who my future wife will be. There’s more to life than being consumed with the friends I have (or how many for that matter), the legacy I leave behind, the ministries I’m involved in. There’s more to life than constantly finding the next great band or artist or making it big in music or having the right connections. And if I’m wrong, and all this really does matter—living life for me—then I’m pretty much done with everything. I’ve failed enough in my own strength, trying to accomplish things for myself. It weighs me down, it brings too much pain. And I think, more importantly, it hurts my Father more than I can realize.
The author of Hebrews understood the solution to living a life with dependence on Christ.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. . . . Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. — Hebrews 12:1-3, 12-13 ESV
Well that’s good for you Joe. This is your problem, thanks for letting me know that you’ve found the answer.
No. I’m not writing this blog for my own therapeutic means of comfort or something like that. If anything, exposing my failures and weaknesses is rather difficult. Nobody likes to show weakness. No one wants to admit that they have it all wrong and that help is needed. But I trust the Lord to use this to, somehow, encourage someone.
And so the question remains: what about you? Where is God’s place in your life in the midst of trials or hardship?
If you’re in the place like I have been, it’s replacing what you know you should be doing with other things. It’s ignoring Him and distracting yourself with what you know you can control, with what you feel most comfortable with. Trusting God is by no means some walk in the park; you watched it in the life of Zac Smith and I’m sure you know this from experience. Where is God’s place in your life? What is He calling you to trust Him with?
I encourage you, don’t give up—do not settle for apathy, ignorance, or complacency—for “He who began a good work in you will carry it unto completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philppians 1:6).
Filed under: Biblical Topics
I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set Your rules before me. — Psalm 119:30 ESV
Faithfulness. Hmm, interesting.
I don’t know about you, but ‘faithful’ is a pretty rare word nowadays. I mean, in an “iCulture” obsessed with getting the latest and greatest, ever-changing appliances; where divorce is at an all-time high, suicide rates have skyrocketed, and pregnancy outside of wedlock is a norm, this word—faithfulness—has become seemingly extinct in our society today.
The way of faithfulness is the road less traveled.
It calls for discipline, endurance, trust, commitment, devotion, humility, selflessness, wisdom, purity, prayer. Who better to consider than Jesus Himself?
It blows my mind when I consider how God is continually faithful to me. Not only did He show this by sending Christ to obediently and willingly die on the cross and three days later raise from the dead, but He shows it even now in my relationship with Him. Continually. Every day. Always—even when I don’t understand. Even when it hurts.
[Your mercies] are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. — Lamentations 3:23 ESV
Lord give me strength—strength to remain committed to you in love, purity, service, attitude, purpose; strength to endure trials, testing, temptation, tribulation, persecution.
Help me remain faithful to You to fix my eyes on Jesus, on Your commands, on Your promises; to diligently study Your Word and consider You in all things.
Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. — Revelation 2:10 ESV
Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance and that sin which so readily clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds. — Hebrews 12:1-3 AMP
Filed under: Biblical Topics
It is said that a picture speaks a thousand words. Now I don’t know about you, but it’s always refreshing and humbling to be reminded of how God has truly blessed my life; it silences my complaining and causes my eyes to be fixed upon His providence, Sovereignty, and goodness.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. — Matthew 6:21 NKJV
Filed under: Biblical Topics
Here’s an interesting picture that I saw in my Bible class this week. I dunno, it just kinda got me thinking.
Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. — Genesis 2:7 NASB
God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. — Genesis 1:27 NASB
. . . that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. — Ephesians 4:23-24 NASB
Filed under: Biblical Topics
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry… — James 1:19 NIV
The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. . . . The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. — Proverbs 15:4, 28 NIV
I have this acronym written in the front of my Bible; my pastor had said it once during a message and it has stuck with me since. Whenever you speak, stop and T.H.I.N.K.
Is what you are saying:
True?
Helpful?
Inspiring?
Necessary?
Kind?
I don’t know about you, but I really gotta work on this. Lord give me strength.
Filed under: Biblical Topics
For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. — Malachi 3:6 ESV
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. — Lamentations 3:22 NIV
God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill? — Numbers 23:19 NIV
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. — Hebrews 13:8 NIV
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. — James 1:17 NIV
Of old You founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. Even they will perish, but You endure; and all of them will wear out like a garment; like clothingYou will change them and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not come to an end. — Psalm 102:25-27 NASB
The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the attention of a child of God, is the name, the nature, the person, the work, the doings, and the existence of the great God whom he calls his Father. There is something exceedingly improving to the mind in a contemplation of the Divinity. It is a subject so vast, that all our thoughts are lost in its immensity; so deep, that our pride is drowned in its infinity. . . . Oh, there is, in contemplating Christ, a balm for every wound; in musing on the Father, there is a quietus for every grief; and in the influence of the Holy Ghost, there is a balsam for every sore. Would you lose your sorrows? Would you drown your cares? Then go, plunge yourself in the Godhead’s deepest sea; be lost in his immensity; and you shall come forth as from a couch of rest, refreshed and invigorated. I know nothing which can so comfort the soul; so calm the swelling billows of grief and sorrow; so speak peace to the winds of trial, as a devout musing upon the subject of the Godhead. — C.H. Spurgeon (1855)
As I was reading Hebrews 4 last night, I stumbled upon Malachi 3:6 (I don’t really know how, it was kinda off topic with what I was reading anyway). God’s immutability—the fact that He never changes—really stuck out to me. Thinking of circumstances in my life that showed God’s unchanging character, I was suddenly hit with the impact of this truth.
Normally, when I think of the unchanging character of God, I think of His attributes like love, grace, and mercy.
God’s love for me never changes.
His mercy is unending.
His grace does not change, and for someone like me, that’s good to know (I need a whole lot of it).
But here’s what I guess caught me by surprise—something I hadn’t really considered before: God’s justice is unchanging.
His discipline for His children, though there may be different ways that He handles different circumstances, still does not cease. His promises don’t change—He will never leave or forsake me; He will carry unto completion that which He began until the day of Christ. His strength does not weaken—He does not grow tired or weary and His understanding is unfathomable. His commands do not fluctuate, not even to the slightest degree. Sin is sin—period, and the call to be holy as He is holy (to follow His commands) never changes, even when my circumstances do; there is no degree of sinning less or more by which any hint of complacency in my life would be acceptable in the eyes of the Lord. His faithfulness does not ever shift or adjust. His anger against sin doesn’t change; it always is and will always be hostile and offensive to the utmost severity against a holy and perfect God.
I’m sure there are more things that you thought of; the list goes on.
But it just hit me hard.
How does God’s unchanging character affect my life? Concerning the things I do, the decisions I make, the thoughts I think, what I listen to, what I look at, what I say, how I view everything—my very function and being; how does this influence my walk Jesus Christ?
It shook my entire perspective.
It really humbled me when I considered the magnificence of a God who was, and is, and is to come—a God who is unchanging.
Filed under: Biblical Topics
No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. — Jesus in Luke 6:43-44a NIV
So about a month ago I began reading the gospel of Luke in my quiet time, and honestly, I wasn’t the least bit excited to read it at the start. For some reason (or so I figured) the Lord impressed it heavily upon my heart. This was odd in several ways. First of all, I don’t usually read through the Bible in such a way that might feel like it should be read (being that I’m only 17, and technically still an adolescent, emotions aren’t the most reliable thing anyway). Second, I normally read my Bible by a pattern. I had just finished Hebrews (talk about a book that stinkin pounds the authority of Jesus Christ in your face!), and was going to start in James, continuing in my study of Proverbs along the way.
Nope, He had something else in mind.
“But Lord, I’ve read through the gospels how many times? I mean seriously; I know about the life of Jesus enough. Can’t I go through James and Proverbs?“
Still, I was bothered. And just as Jacob wrestled with God and lost, this was very well the outcome in this situation. All my “buts” and rebuttals didn’t work. Of course! You think I would have known; I mean this is God I’m talking to. But then again, there’s this little thing called PRIDE that likes to worm its way into my life, so I started thinking that I knew more than the Maker of the universe. Typical.
Oh—and to really humble me—I was convicted right from the start with things that had gone unnoticed and unchecked in my life as I opened to Luke 1—things that had seemed minor to me, but for Him, were major hurdles that He needed to get me over so that He could show me Himself clearly and mold me into His creation smoothly. His compassion, patience, humility, and faithfulness jumped off the page and found their way through my thick skull, hitting me right center in the heart, as my King ever so gently but authoritatively instructed me of His holiness and my imperfections. All in all, it was the very bittersweet moment between a Father lovingly rebuking and teaching His child—the child laughing at himself for being so naïve and stubborn. I’m reminded of 1 Timothy 1:15-16:
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on Him and receive eternal life.
Okay, so now that you know that (which I really don’t know why I shared this story), I am going to talk about what the Lord has shown me in Luke 6 (hence the title of this blog: Fruit!).
Now I don’t know about you, but when I read Luke 6 my mind goes back to Matthew 7:15-23, where Jesus, in giving the Sermon on the Mount, explains that it is by our fruits that people will recognize that we are God’s children (that’s loosely paraphrased; mainly taken from verse 20). Altogether, the fruit that we produce in our lives—the working of God through us, like reaching out to people, sharing Christ with the lost, and serving Him—are signs that we are walking with the Lord. It is not by these things that we obtain eternal life. It is not by these things that we call ourselves Christians.
I’m sure you already know this, but you’d be surprised how many times people forget (I know I do) that our relationship with God is not based on merit or works, but by turning from our sin and following Jesus Christ—living in fellowship with Him, not to earn some title of righteousness before the throne of God (Ephesians 2:8-9).
This is crucial to understand when we look at what it means to bear fruits for the kingdom of God.
Alright, so I’m living in fellowship with Jesus Christ; He is showing me things that I need to change and I respond as I desire to obey Him in love.
So what has He shown me here in Luke 6? There’s one word that stuck out to me in verse 44: OWN.
Jesus doesn’t say that it’s by my friends’ fruits or by that really gifted leaders’ fruits that I am recognized. He doesn’t even say that it’s just by good fruits in general.
No, it is our own fruit that He is looking at. Now for someone like me who can easily compare themself to other people, this is tough to swallow. I mean I look one way and I see this always-joyful and persistent Christian who is just one of the kindest and humblest people I know, or the other way, where that incredibly talented and Christ-pursuing individual that everyone wants to be around walks in, and here I am, mindful of my flaws and insufficiencies. I begin saying, “Why can’t I be like that person, Lord? Why can’t you use me like him or make me so likable like her?” I begin looking at my impurities and how I have said so many wrong things, and how many people I have hurt, and how I’m not like this or that, blah blah blah.
The enemy comes in and distracts me with guilt, shame, insecurity, and dissatisfaction. I listen to that voice. I give in to my flesh. And what’s the result? Oh phooey, poor me. Let’s throw a pity party.
I wonder if you find yourself in similar circumstances at times? You see this fruit in the lives of your friends and others around you—great “Davids” and “Pauls” and “Peters”—and you think, “What do I have to offer? What do I have to give?” You diligently seek the Lord, but you’ve been waiting . . . and waiting . . . and waiting to produce that person’s fruits.
Still. Nothing.
Can I encourage you with this? God isn’t looking for the person that you want to be like. He isn’t looking for a clone of Spurgeon or a replica of Billy Graham.
He’s looking for you to be like CHRIST. He made you who you are, uniquely, so that His Son may produce fruits that can only come by your obedience in seeking HIM. He uses our imperfections and weaknesses to show His strength in us, and to produce fruit thereof.
I want to end with a quote from Max Lucado:
Moses had a staff (Exodus 7:14-18).
David had a sling (1 Samuel 18:48-50).
Samson had a jawbone (Judges 15:14-17).
Rahab had a string (Joshua 2).
Mary had some ointment (John 12).
Dorcas had a needle (Acts 9).All were used by God.
What do you have?
Filed under: Biblical Topics
I had stumbled upon a website that had testimonials of people’s fears—a sort of therapeutic means for individuals to express their struggles of being afraid. As I browsed through, I found it rather surprising and, for some stories, quite hysterical. People began confessing cases like being afraid of underwater photographs, or afraid that people would take their socks, or, get this, the fear of wrists. Yeah, I know. How can you be afraid of something that sits two feet in front of you every day? Here’s what this person wrote:
I have a fear of wrists. I cannot deal with looking, seeing, touching, hurting, or even talking about mine or anybody else’s wrists. Even now I am getting very anxious just typing about it. The worst is when I accidentally look at someone who has their head rested on their hand and their wrist is jutted out; I can’t even function or think straight for a while after that.
Okay, I know I might seem a bit cynical considering that I’m posting someone’s actual fear on my blog to, basically, poke fun at. But hey, I’m trying to prove a point.
You may think that this person sounds ridiculous. Really, how could you be afraid of something so insignificant and petty as a wrist?
However, a few weeks ago I read this passage in my quiet time and it changed my perspective completely.
Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe. — Proverbs 28:25 NIV
Everyone is afraid of something. If you have a hard time accepting this, then consider this statistic. On the same website which had people confessing their fears was this interesting statement: the top three fears in society are (1) glossophobia (fear of public speaking), (2) necrophobia (fear of death), and (3) arachnophobia (fear of spiders). Now I don’t know about you, but I’ve never met a single person that has blatantly said that they would be totally fine with speaking in front of a crowd of some hundreds or thousands of people. And who do you know that would want to go pick up a black widow or handle a tarantula that was found in your backyard?
Ultimately, we are a society that lives in fear.
After reading Proverbs 25:28, the Lord spoke to me and showed me that I very well live my life in fear, and it’s quite ridiculous.
I’m afraid of what others think about me. I’m afraid of not being good enough for peoples’ standards instead of accepting the fact that my King is already satisfied with me because of what His Son accomplished. I’m afraid of being wronged and lied to, and so I shut people out and limit God’s love to only specific individuals in my life instead of all people. I’m afraid of being embarrassed and mocked by standing for truth instead of holding unswervingly to the hope I profess. I’m afraid of losing my position and failing my own goals in life instead of denying myself daily to pick up my cross and follow Jesus Christ—instead of trusting in and being satisfied with my Saviour’s love.
The list goes on.
Consequently, because I allowed these fears to dominate my mind, I tailored my life to fit the world’s standards instead of living in fear of the Lord. And the thing was, I didn’t wake up every day and consciously cling to these fears; they had gone unnoticed in my life for quite some time, and the Lord had now made them known. And what’s even worse is that I looked for security in these things because I had grown so accustomed to living in fear; to be without them would seem awkward and difficult to achieve.
But then the Lord reminded me of what Jesus says in John 14:27:
I leave peace with you; I give My peace to you: not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it fear.
I needed to cling not to my fears and insecurities but to Christ, where peace is found—a peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
I wonder if you find yourself in similar circumstances.
You’re afraid of not being good enough. You’re afraid of not being accepted. You’re afraid of not making ends meet and so you need to try to fix things in your own strength. You’re afraid of not having things go as you planned. You’re afraid of losing someone closest to you, and so you do everything for that person and you can never let go and trust God. You’re afraid of being ostracized for what’s true, so you stand only for what people say you should stand for instead of what God’s Word says is truth.
Can I encourage you with this? The Lord isn’t finished with you; He hasn’t given up on you, even when you are so deserving of it. He loves you, unconditionally, and He desires that you walk according to His commands because He knows what’s best for His children. He never changes, He’s always the same, and He will never let you down. And—get this—He understands.
Christ went through everything we go through: ostracism, mockery, persecution, betrayal, and even, in the world’s eyes, a life without success. He still obeyed. He still endured. He still kept His eyes on the Father and feared Him alone.
Could you fear Him as Christ did? Could you trust Him and not yourself or others, for strength, security, and satisfaction? For “He who began a good work in you will carry it on until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
That’s a promise that will never let you down.
In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge. — Proverbs 14:26 NKJV
Filed under: Biblical Topics
He has showed you, O man, 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. — MICAH 6:8 NIV
When I first heard that God is a God of justice, I often thought of a God of righteous indignation and judgement. And that is very well the case! God is indeed a God Who deserves justice—He is holy and perfect. We have offended this holy and perfect God—in our own free will we have neglected the commands of our Lord. Thankfully, the gospel message of Jesus Christ has given us grace! Praise the Lord!
The Lord is very well a God of righteous judgement (Psalm 9:8, Acts 17:31, 1 Corinthians 4:5, Hebrews 9:27)—yes, He’s just.
For a while I thought, “Okay, God calls me to act justly. If God is just, and His justice means that He judges all people, then what do I do? I mean, to judge people is only an act of God Himself; Christ even said it Himself in Matthew 7:1 and Luke 6:37, and James 4:12 specifically speaks against me judging other people. So, Lord, what do I do?”
I left it at that. I would look at a passage like Micah 6:8 and would regard “love mercy” and “walk humbly”—I understood those things. But to ‘act justly’; well, I basically disregarded it and left the ‘justice-part’ to God. Whether it was my ignorance to truly study the matter in God’s Word, or, perhaps, it never occurred to me to look into it, one thing is for sure, it’s meaning came alive when I read ISAIAH 30:18, which says:
Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him! (NIV)
I realized that when the Lord says to ‘act justly’ in a passage like Micah 6:8, He is calling us to, yes, leave judgment in His hands. But there’s more. Look at that passage again!
Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you . . .
Okay, just consider that phrase for a moment. God, Who fashioned the heavens and the earth out of nothing, this HOLY and OMNIPOTENT, OMNISCIENT, and OMNIPRESENT King of all kings and Lord of all lords—MY God (Psalm 31:14) LONGS to give grace.
He rises to show you compassion . . .
He isn’t too busy or preoccupied. He doesn’t send someone else to relay the message of His compassion. No, this personal and intimate God has Himself shown compassion by coming down in human likeness to pay the penalty for our sin. That is the epitome of grace. That is the ultimate demonstration of compassion. THAT is the power of Christ’s justice.
You see, just as Jesus portrayed justice on the cross, we are to die to ourselves daily and act justly to others.
But get this, just as the Lord longs to show this grace and compassion—just as He personally goes out of His way to show such love—so are we to have this attitude in obedience.
Not because it’s the right thing to do.
Not because we get brownie-points in heaven.
We act justly as a desire to honour and glorify our Saviour Jesus Christ.
