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| Justice? No....trust |
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37:5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this: 37:6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
This scripture appears to be about justice. However, I believe it’s actually less about justice than trust. At least, that’s what the Lord continues to teach me. (Sometimes I'm a really slow learner!)
So often our problems in life seem to revolve around justice and fairness, don’t they? How other people treat us. How our neighbors treat us... How our boss treats us... How our pastors and church leaders treat us... How our husband, wife, or family members treat us... How our professors at school treat us... How customer service treats us... How other drivers on the road treat us… How those people on MyChurch.org treat us… But where does it say in scripture that we can expect justice and fairness from all? Where does it say we should even seek it?
Whenever I seek justice, it seems I’m only seeking my idea of what’s just and fair. Even if my idea is based on scripture, it has been filtered by my limited perspective. This is likely true of every person on the planet—billions of different ideas of what is just and fair!
God doesn’t give us guidance in our quest for justice. Instead, he tells us to trust him! Over and over again, God pleads for us to trust him. He’ll take care of the justice, in his time, in his way. He always does, doesn’t he? And if we aren’t satisfied with the way God handles the issue, I'm afraid this only exposes our limited perspective and lack of trust. We do not have all the facts. We can’t possibly have all the facts. But there’s One who does. Justice isn’t about what we see, it’s about what he says. Trust him!
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| Just and True are all Your ways. It all boils down to this: Are we willing to trust the Lord to do what is righ? Whether or not we feel vindicated, or feel that justice has been served will we commit the offense to Him and let Him deal with it. You are so right when you say "You/we have a limited perspective." God knows all things, and I trust Him to work it out. Thanks Mike! |
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| Great one Your Blog are so good and right on what can I say but AMEN AWESOME Bro. |
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| Thanks guys! What a hard lesson to learn! I mean, I think I know when I'm being mistreated...and I think if only I could point this out in no uncertain terms, they would realize it and apologize, right? Wrong. They have their own perspective, which conflicts with mine. I need to back off and let God defend me. (At least, where legality isn't in question...) |
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| Awesome job on this one Mike!!!! |
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| Great one Mike! I also like what Todd says...Can we trust God to do what is right? I want to think that I do...and that I will...but there are so many times that my patience or lack there of takes over. I pray some times more for patience than I do anything else. :) I know His Will is perfect....I should be completely good with that! |
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I'm with you Val, I'm impatient! Forget about God's timing, it's gotta happen on my timetable!!!
Ok, so evidently I still have a lot to learn..... (thanks for the comments, glad I'm not the only one who's learning the hard lessons today!) |
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| It's like God told Stormie Omartian (and me too) when she said "That isn't fair!" The Lord said, "Life isn't fair, but I am." |
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| Amen for that i really needed that....im dealing with patients now and God is really refining me...keep me in prayer never looked at that scripture that way thank you and God bless..Mike & Laura |
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Kim |
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May 02, 2008 at 5:58pm |
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| Amen Mike. I should know by now that God has a better way than mine. And the times I waited and just trusted, I have been utterly astonished. But other times when it hurts really bad, it has been very hard wait. But I just mess it up when I try to help Him out. His way is best. |
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Deb |
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May 02, 2008 at 6:11pm |
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| What are you saying Mike, it's NOT all about me??? lol This is a very good blog. We must trust in Him. He knows what He is doing, even when we might not agree with His ways. He will get justice for us if we trust in Him. Excellent reminder. |
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| Deb, it's not all about you...it's all about me! lol Just teasing. I know! It shocked me too when I found out. lol |
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| I tried to have just ice; but it melted in the noonday sun. sorry, couldn't resist. Great Blog. |
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| I have a few people that I yearn to hear an apology from. I figure I never will. That's OK cause what they meant for evil God meant for good. I am a composite of all the good and bad that has ever happened to me and those experiences are what makes me uniquely qualified to minister God's love and affection. I am not just speaking of me but that is true of anyone. Especially you Mike. |
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| Good word Mike. If I got my just rewards, I'd have paid the price that Christ paid. But Christ forwent justice so we could live. |
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Dave - amen...if we could only remember Jesus Christ when we're so eager for that justice.
Todd - I love you more with each post! "I am a composite of all the good and bad that has ever happened to me and those experiences are what makes me uniquely qualified..." Wow, excellent point!
Brian...LOL
Gary - bang! hehe, sorry, couldn't resist. I went through a phase recently of writing long blogs, now I'm trying to get back to my roots I guess....
Lara...The Lord said, "Life isn't fair, but I am." That's stunning, where do you come up with this stuff???
Deb (& Lara), no, I told you, it's all about me! Seriously though, you guys are about the last ones I'd expect to go around thinking that! Thanks for leading by example!
Kim, wow! Nothing like seeing God's word modeled in your life...cool!!
Maureen...thanks for dropping in!!!
Tish, so glad to see that God's teaching us both together! |
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| If I spent as much time worshiping, thanking, and trusting God as I do trying to make life fair" for myself I'd be hurt less and happy more. Thanks so much. I love this blog!!! |
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| Robin, that's very succinct and very powerful...thanks for posting it here! |
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| This is an awesome blog. The "fairness" issue can be a hard pill to swallow for all of us at one time or another. Thanks for expanding upon this issue, kudos. |
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| Mike, hey! Talk to God---He said it! lol He really does talk that bluntly to some of us cuz it's the only way to get it through our thick skulls, I suspect. lol |
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| Great blog Mike. I agree that no where in the Bible are we promised justice all the time here on earth. Granted there will be ultimate justice, but that doesn't take place until after we die. Until then, we are to trust God. Thanks for the reminder! |
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| Thanks for your comment, Pastor Tim. Hey, you've been kinda scarce around here!! But that's fine, I know you're busy with the church plant. I posted a link to your profile in a comment to another guy who's planting churches, wonder if he contacted you? |
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| Brandy....hey thanks!!! Yes, I think we in the US especially choke on that pill. We're brought up to expect our "rights" to be respected, you know....everything fair and square. I think fairness might be one of the biggest idols in our land!! I still battle it frequently. Thanks for your nice comment! |
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Glenn |
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May 05, 2008 at 10:08am |
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Hey Mike, I thinks sometimes my problem with the justice issues revolve around a perceived wrong directed at my children. In my desire to make sure they are protected, I often jump into things seeking justice, when the best answer is to use the problem as a teachable moment to help my children see God's hand and timing in bring us what is just and fair. His justice and fairness is far better than what I perceive justice to be. Thanks for the reminder here Mike, I will need to let God, even when it is my children who are suffering and know that He will bring Justice and Peace.
peace |
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| Mike, great great word. If you looked in the dictionary under impatience you would see a pic of me with a frown, and my arms crossed. This is an area the Lord has been working on in me for years. I am still trying to "trust" Him in all areas of my life. I am constantly reminded that God does not need my help to hurry things along. Always in His time. ... If we would all just submit to the fact He is the "boss of us", mabe we would be more obedient and in effect more blessed too, |
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Mike, Excellent blog with wonderful insight ! While reading the scriptures you posted (before reading the rest), The thought came to me.......That through commitment to and trust in Him, He will do some things.......
a) Change our "filthy rag righteousness" into "righteousness" that "shines like the dawn".
b) and, "in the noonday son", when things are clearly seen, we will be ready to face justice.
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My comment was posted before I could add............
OH THE BLOOD OF JESUS....IT CLEANSES WHITER THAN SNOW !! |
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Ed |
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May 06, 2008 at 6:28am |
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Mike -- Good, thought provoking blog...thanks! Good comments, too. Let me add mine. I think the word "trust" is a major theme in the Bible, both old and new. Faith and trust go hand in hand.
16:33 I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
Allow me to paraphrase the verse above: In order to posess peace and contentment in this world that is certainly full of injustice and trials and tribulations, be happy because if you trust Christ you will be able to overcome these difficulties just as Jesus has overcome them.
When we trust...we define who we are. If we trust the world, then we're expected to find our solutions in the world. If we trust the occult...if we trust ourselves...if we trust fate...etc. we will be defined by that trust.
I think trusting is even stronger than believing. Doesn't the devil believe? It's who you trust that counts! |
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Hi Mike
John Arnott has a great little book out called "The Importance Of Forgiveness" and it is an awesome little book. It deals with justice verses grace. In the old covenant there was justice and instructions on how it worked. Then we moved from that to a grace level which is higher and doesn't say "an eye for an eye" but rather turn the other cheek. Satan is all for me wanting justice so he can ask for justice against me for the things I have done. In the grace level he can't touch me. So the logical thing is to stay in a grace level where I forgive all the wrongs that come my way right? The problem for me is that my flesh wants to be praised all the time and doesn't like to be ridiculed or ignored or insulted. If I could just walk in the spirit and not the flesh what a wonderful guy I would be. When hurts come our way we should take it to Dad, let Him deal with it and give the offender the gift of forgiveness. Dear God hear the desire of my heart in this and move to the place where I walk this out on a daily basis. We so need You to live in Christ and to walk this life like kingdom kids. Bless Mike and those like him who desire to know You more and to walk in Your ways.
Mike you always put of blogs that reveal your heart and I so appreciate them. I find that I still find your blog on Wages & Gifts coming back to mind when I am in conversation. It just was something right there that I had never caught a glimpse of. :-)
Take Care |
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I have learned through observance of others and personal experience that in many cases I find that the Lord allows others to treat me the way I am treating Him. When it feels like suddenly my relationships are leaving me feel estranged or wrongfully accused, it is most frequently because I have treated Him that way first and he loves me enough to try to get my attention back on Him.
My relationships on earth seem to be a direct correlation of my relationship with Him. When my relationship with Him is healthy and constant, then my interpersonal relationships here on earth are healthy and mutually beneficial and vibrant.
The next time you feel shunned or slighted by your loved one, take an hour to check your relationship with Him and see if maybe he's trying to get your attention like he does mine.
Jonathan |
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Joey |
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May 07, 2008 at 5:57pm |
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| I remember the song "Trust in The Lord"... |
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| This verse makes me think about the time that a gossipy neighbor accused me of what was in her mind a horrendous thing of which I was not guilty. She refused to listen to my side. My face burned as I thought about her going around the neighborhood telling everyone what a terrible mother I was. That was early in my walk with the Lord and I wasn't very experienced at forgiving. I worked and worked at it. It took a long time :) Finally I was at peace. Sometime later, I can't say how long, the Lord arranged vindication for me. Publicly, a teacher honored my son and me and exonerated me of the crime I had been charged with in my neighbors' eyes. I could never have secured my own justice but he provided it abundantly! |
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| Janell, what an INCREDIBLE example of this verse in action! That is exactly the kind of justice only the Lord can provide! Thanks for posting that. I can totally relate to your need for vindication!!! |
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Cathy |
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May 14, 2008 at 8:10pm |
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| JayKTX, I know how you feel. I have been unfairly judged and gossiped about. My first reaction was to defend myself. I decided to be silent. The Lord gave me peace when those who really know me comforted me with kind words. I found that some actually defended me without me even knowing. |
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| Cathy, your decision was definitely the right one...and the mature one. Great example! |
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