Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Day 13 Righteous
There is a saying that "Decisions are not made because they are popular,they are made because they are right". Making the right decision when everyone else is pulling the opposite direction can be very difficult. As God's people we are called to be people of righteousness. Our mission is to restore our world to righteousness.We need to care about the things He care about and hate the things He hates. Wherever we go we are having an influence in our world. How we act,how we react,how we treat people, where we go we will influence people.If we have an ongoing,obedient relationship with God our influence will be one of righteousness. If we are trying on our own merit then our influence will be well..... God has called us to be agents(not secret or undercover) but agents of change in a world that does indeed need change. Not a popular change but a righteous change. I like what the author said " There is no room for compromise only commitment". Let's commit today to His agents of change
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"Those who live for God's righteousness on earth will change the world, one relationship at a time. Those who live for self-righteousness will expect the world to change for them." Jess Bousa.
ReplyDeleteI have reprimanded multiple times for getting involved in situations or conversations that those around me were uncomfortable with. Sometimes it has been my children, other times, my husband, that have told me that I should not be getting involved. Yet, every fiber of my being has screamed for me to be involved.
I witnessed a young lady being especially unkind to a young person, probably about 8 years old. She worked for local youth organization that provides after school programs for youth. It enraged me to hear her comments directed at him and to see her facial expressions and body language belittle this young man. I could not imagine just getting in my car and driving away - although that was what the other parents were doing. So, I placed my children in the car and then walked to the fence to address her. I inquired who she was, and who her supervisor was before I continued to inform her of how inappropriate her behavior was. And though he was not biologically my child, he was a child that was fully deserving of being treated with dignity and love. I did not raise my voice or engage in any physically threatening postures or gestures. I left her amazed that a "stranger" had the audacity to address her, and hopefully fully understanding that she was wrong! I continued my complaint to her supervisor, informing her of what I saw and what I did in reaction to her employees unkindness. My hope is that she was reprimanded and that the young man felt like there was some type of justice in the world, that a "stranger" came to his aid.
I could give a variety of other examples where it was obvious that somebody needed to intervene, yet the world seemed uninterested or fearful and would not intervene. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people say "it's none of my business"....... and that is why the world is as it is today! Come on people! Wake up! We are our brother's keeper! We should never stand by and allow other people to perform acts of unkindness and humiliation to other people! Yes -- I KNOW that there are some crazy people in the world, and that it can be intimidating and sometimes dangerous to get involved. But, I can't stand by and say or do NOTHING while others are being abused because we refuse to get involved! We empower bullies and thugs when we don't collectively stand up to them.
When you seek after God, you become concerned about things that God is concerned about. When you see blatent injustices, you want them to be corrected. Even a generallt shy person will become bold and speak out for what is right -- for righteousness!
"The foolish are like ripples on water, for whatsoever they do is quickly effaced; but the righteous are like carvings upon stone, for their smallest act is durable." Horace
It's not about making yourself feel good, or feel important, or becoming a superhero, or anything like that. It's about working - hands on - for Jesus. We are the hands and feet of Christ. We are also His mouth, eyes, and heart. His spirit in us gives us the boldness we need to point out injustice and the tools we need to help make it right. Are we willing to think it and act on it??!!
"How I long for your precepts! Preserve my life in your righteousness." Psalm 119:40
"The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever." Isaiah 32:17
"The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion." Proverbs 28:1
Let's be workers together with Christ!! NJ