Verse of the day: Deuteronomy 16:19 You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.
Where do I even begin? Society, politics, and our justice system, in general, have all strayed far from this command. Even those who profess to know Christ have followed the corrupt ways of this world. I have all too often seen the same corruption that exists in society permeate the church. This is not to say that any of us are perfect…we are not. If we were, we would not need our Savior. However, what we see today is a blatant disregard for what is right, fair, and just. Today, more than ever, we need to be on our knees, praying for those who lead our country and have authority over us. 1 Timothy 2:1-3 clearly tells us, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.” Sadly, those who are in authority over us, who receive their authority from God, are working tirelessly to remove God from the system. Romans 13:1-7 reads as follows, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.” Today’s corrupt system is the same one that far too many Christians turn to in their attempts to settle their differences. Yet, the Apostle Paul, by the leading of the Spirit, penned these words in 1 Corinthians 6:1-6, “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!” Instead of seeking justice in a corrupt system of unbelievers, the Word of God encourages us to settle our differences within the church, where we are supposed to be the people who stand for justice, not pervert it. We are supposed to be the ones who do not show partiality, but treat everyone fairly and judge a matter through the filter of God’s Word. We are supposed to be the ones who cannot be bought, and be able to draw wisdom from God who we can ask and He will give it generously (James 1:5). What ultimately happens is that we create division within the body of Christ because we refuse to give in to one another. We insist on getting our “pound of flesh” at any cost, and in essence look no different from the world in our behavior. The solution? Romans 6:7-8 gives us the solution, “Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? 8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!” Sadly, too many of us would be too proud to let the other person have their way. Having been involved with government entities throughout much of my years of work, and seeing (up close and personal) how people in power have cheated and used the media, a naïve society, and people who are ignorant of the spiritual battle behind all of this corruption, to their advantage, I have had to learn to look ahead to the day when they will all stand before a just God. For us, the born again believer, 2 Corinthians 5:10 reminds us, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” For the unbeliever, Revelation 20:12 warns, “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.” In the end, no one gets away with anything, because our God is holy, just, and right, not showing partiality (Psalm 25:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:6).
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
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