“without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,” -2 Timothy 3:3 (NIV)

It has been argued that revolutionaries are amongst the most loving people in the world. In some cases there does appear to be a hint of truth in that statement. So great is their love for their nation and countrymen that they will risk all that they have in the service of creating a better society for all to live in. However, because a revolutionary’s love is but mere human love, it can easily be hijacked by sin. In their zeal, a revolutionary is quick to find enemies and persecute them with ruthless brutality. Their love does not extend to those they have deemed deserving to be punished for their crimes, whether real or imagined. Thus in the past century so many innocent lives have been snuffed out by these revolutionaries who claim to love by taking justice to a revolting extreme in the name of weeding out so-called “villains”.

Justice is something that is desirable and good. God Himself is a God of justice and desires that His righteousness be upheld. Yet too often we get carried away by the cause of justice and allow ourselves to fall into sin. How often do we look down upon those guilty of heinous crimes with anger or scorn? How often do we relish the thought of them receiving the harshest of sentences? It seems that we quickly forget Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:22 that, “anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.” All of us are deserving of punishment under God’s holy standards. None of us, despite all our efforts to live moral lives can ever match God’s standards and vindicate ourselves before Him. Yet because God is a God of love He wants to redeem us so that we may not face eternal judgement, and instead partake in the joy and hope which comes from being in a relationship with Him. Through Christ’s death the penalty for our sins has been paid in full and by His resurrection we are made new in His sight. What right then do we have to withhold love and forgiveness from others when Christ Himself has forgiven us? When we have allowed His Spirit to take control of our attitudes, His love will overflow from within us, bringing healing and hope to those who desperately need it.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” –Amos 5:24 (NIV)

Water takes on the form of whatever contains it. If we were to pour water into a bottle, it will take the shape of the bottle. If we were to pour it into a bowl, it will take the shape of the bowl. This makes water, or any other liquid for that matter, a very malleable substance. Through technological innovation we have the power to divert rivers for irrigation and reap the agricultural benefits this would bring for us. We also have the ability to build dams which partially block the natural flow of water so that we may harness it to produce energy for ourselves. Such architectural feats are fascinating to learn about and it shows how through technology we can use the natural force of water to our advantage.

But how often do we attempt to pervert the course of justice and righteousness for our own benefit! How often is it that instead of justice rolling on like a river, it is diverted here and there so that the selfish interests of the unscrupulous may be persevered? How often is it that we have prevented ourselves from standing up for righteousness out of fear that we will be ridiculed or silenced? In a world where sin is promoted and a blind eye is turned to corruption, it can be hard to be the voice calling for integrity and purity. However, as children of Christ we are called to be bearers of His light wherever we go. When we have allowed Christ to enter our hearts and carry out His redemptive work in our lives, His righteousness and love will overflow from within us. He will give us the boldness and confidence to stand up for what is right and true so that others will see that we serve a God who is holy and just. What is stopping the flow of righteousness and justice in our lives? Only by surrendering these areas to Christ can we shine for Him in a world overtaken by darkness.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.” –Acts 17:26 (NIV)

Ethnic violence is still an ever present reality for many in the world. Even after the Holocaust, the civil rights movement in America, and the collapse of apartheid in South Africa, racial hatred continues to persist. The programs of one ethnic group to eliminate another, the bloody reprisals of the oppressed, together they form a cycle of bloodshed and injustice that is both tragic and horrifying. Faced with these issues, where do we begin to respond? We are all taught that racism in all its forms is wrong. But why is it wrong? Is it merely because it is a nasty and ignorant attitude to adopt, or is there a much deeper reason? To answer this question, one needs to look at humanity through the eyes of God.

Each and every one of us born into this world is created in the image of God. As an expression of His creativity, He has made us all unique; having varied physical characteristics and speaking different tongues. But these differences do not nullify the fact that before God we are all equal, both as cherished bearers of His image and as fallen creatures in need of His redemptive power. Like our forefather Adam, we have all chosen to rebel against Him and indulge in our sinful desires. This even includes turning against one another either in thought, word, or action, and in effect spitting upon those whom God has lovingly created. But God does not want us to be bound to our sin. He knows the destruction that it will cause both to ourselves and to the people around us. That is why He sent His Son, Jesus Christ so that all, regardless of who they are, may come to Him and be saved from their sin. If Christ has shown such impartial love, what right do we have to withhold it from others? When we have allowed Christ to enter our lives and seek to conform ourselves to Him, we will see with new eyes. Through Him we will understand that all men are precious in His sight, each of whom God has a specific plan for, and in need of His grace.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by crime!” –Habakkuk 2:12 (NIV)

When an empire or state resorts to violence and corruption to maintain its hold on power, it will not last. Though the swift power of their repression may seem intimidating, there will come a day when their perceived invincibility will be exposed for the myth that it is. Not only will the victims of its oppression grow weary and fight for their liberty, but also those who are brave enough to support them and take up their cause. If the foundation of a regime is based upon bloodshed and tyranny, it will be swept away by those willing to stand for justice and truth at all costs.  It serves as an assurance of hope to those who must bear with injustice, as well as a warning to those who perpetrate it.

In our lives as well this same principle applies. Each of our actions has consequences either for better or for worse. If we have allowed sin to form the basis of our lifestyles, our relationships, or our careers, we have set ourselves on a path that will lead to our destruction. We will feel the sting of regret when we realize our folly and we wish that we could go back in time and correct our mistakes. However, while we cannot change our past, there is hope for the future through Christ. When we allow His Spirit to cleanse us of our sinful nature and permit Him to carry out His redemptive work in our lives, He will give us the wisdom to know that what we sow now we will reap in the future. By choosing to walk in His ways through His enabling, we will be able to rest in the assurance that as long as we keep in step with Him we will be laying a foundation that God will honour; bringing life and hope to ourselves as well as others.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” –Romans 12:21 (NIV)

Human behaviour is tragically repetitive. It is repetitive because we use the exact same methods time and time again to deal with conflict. It is tragic because we often resort to such violent and vengeful means to somehow ensure in our minds that justice has been served. When someone strikes us, our instinctive response is to strike back and sometimes with even more malice. But if we do this, what is it that separates us from the one that has harmed us? Though we may think that we are justified in our reactions and that this gives us the moral high ground, we are no different from our enemies if we use the same underhanded and destructive methods they use. Instead of overcoming evil it has conquered us and made us its slave.

How then can we escape from this dilemma? As long as our sinful nature continues to hold sway over us, our concept of justice will be skewed and warped, and this will be reflected in our actions and reactions. The solution therefore lies in dealing with our innate depravity. But how can this be done? It is only through Christ, who entered this world so that humanity may be freed from their slavery to sin, that we have the hope of being restored. When we have acknowledged His death and resurrection for us and have allowed His Spirit to enter our hearts, He will give us wisdom and discernment as to how to live as His children. Through His righteousness being worked out through us, He will teach how to walk justly and to love mercy. In this we are able by His enabling to overcome the evils we may face with the light that He shines forth from us; bearing witness to the fact that we are new creations in Christ, holy and blameless before Him and before men.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“‘If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying “I repent,” you must forgive them.’” –Luke 17:3-4 (NIV)

Forgiveness is not something which comes naturally for us. The resentments and grudges we hold, and our willingness to hold onto new ones, continues to remind us of this fact. When we have been slighted and hurt by someone else, it is easy to allow anger and bitterness to settle in. We might boast about our abilities to forgive, but we will always be reminded that our forgiveness has limits. The moment we declare an action to be unforgivable we have confessed to ourselves that we are unable to show that unconditional love and grace we are so keen to show off. We may be able to forgive the first time, and perhaps even the second. But our patience soon begins to wear thin, and we deem our offenders not worthy of our mercy.

Why choose forgiveness? When we are faced with injustice we want our enemies to feel retribution, not give them clemency. But if we allow our desire for revenge to fester, it will consume us. We will become prisoners of our anger, and we will soon find that in our thoughts, words, and actions, we will have fallen into sin. As children of Christ we forgive because we do not deserve it ourselves. All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s holy standards. Yet, in His unfailing love, God sent down His Son, Jesus Christ, so that through Him we may find forgiveness. When we accept this free gift of salvation and allow the Spirit of Christ to cleanse us of our sin, we are able to stand before God not because of anything we have done, but by the grace He has willingly shown us. If He does not withhold forgiveness from us no matter what we do, why should we refrain from doing so as His children? Only through allowing Christ’s Spirit to perfect His love in us will we be able to truly extend the hand of forgiveness; in that finding freedom and life.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong…do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd,” –Exodus 23:2 (NIV)

Why is it so easy for us to turn a blind eye when confronted by injustice? Why is it so tempting to side with those who do wrong? There are a variety of reasons to which we can attribute our willingness to do so. Though we may know that the crowd is clearly acting against all that is noble and pure, perhaps we may feel that we have much to lose if we stand against them. We may fear the loss of status, friends, privileges, all the comforts we cherish and treasure. Rationalizing our passivity we may argue that even if we raised our voice in opposition we would only be shut down and ignored. We then keep silent; tolerating evil in an effort to maintain a false sense of peace and security.

We would like to think that we can sit on the fence between what is right and what is wrong. Reality however does not permit us to adopt such a position. Whether we like it or not, we must choose which side to be on. We cannot openly support immorality while condemning it secretly and claim to be good. If anything, it actually accentuates our allegiance to sin. Quietly siding with the crowd when they challenge God’s holy standards reveals our selfish, opportunistic nature in that we would only stand for His righteousness if it is convenient for us. But if we want to see true justice and integrity flourish, we must understand that it comes at a price. It means fighting against the crowd and proclaiming the righteousness of Christ no matter how many times we may be ridiculed, no matter how many times we may be scorned, and no matter what we may lose in the process. The wonderful fact is that we do not fight this battle alone. When we have allowed the Spirit of Christ to dwell within our hearts and seek to conform ourselves to Him, He will give us the boldness and strength to stand for what is right and true. He will always side with those who honour Him and resting in this promise our voice will rise above the crowd knowing that the truth of Christ will always emerge triumphant.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.