It makes a difference

One of the important things for a free and strong society is fair, swift, and sure justice! The rule of law secures the people to carry on commerce and live in safety. It also restrains the rise of wrong-doing by keeping the promise of punishment in the mind of the person who thinks about harming another. In something as simple as the speed limit, enforcement works. None of us likes getting a speeding ticket, but writing a check for $100 gets our attention. The next time we drive down that road; it is amazing how attentive we are to that speedometer in our car! What burns us is when we find that there are two kinds of enforcement – one for us and one for a select group who are given a pass.

God is just! We can be comforted by that fact, or we may find ourselves resenting it. Some may conveniently forget it, because God’s judgment does not always arrive the day following sinful acts. Some choose to gamble with their life, thinking that the Lord’s judgment will come, only at the End of days or at least when their life here on earth comes to a close. So they decide to ‘eat, drink, and be merry,’ living without a reference to the will of the Lord.

This must never be forgotten: God’s justice is written into Creation! We see it in physical laws. If we slip off a ladder, we don’t fly up; we fall down. If we collide with a large object, destructive energy is released that brings harm and destruction. In the same way His law is written into other parts of life. If we refuse to forgive, we find ourselves unforgiven. If we live with love, love comes to us. If we are selfish, we never have enough; if we are generous, contentment is our inheritance. The Scripture says that God’s justice is like a seed planted. It takes time to grow and mature to harvest. In this passage, both a warning and promise, we learn that it is easy to forget about justice, but it is also a fools way.
"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." (Galatians 6:7-8, NIV)

Are you finding it difficult to keep serving the Lord?
Have temptations gathered ‘round you, telling you that it’s time to live for yourself, to forget about the Father’s will?
Are circumstances and/or people making you feel like walking with the Lord is a ‘waste of time,’ because the wicked seem to prosper?

Here’s a word from the Word for your thoughts. May it convince you that what you do today really makes a difference in how you will live tomorrow!
"Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”" (Isaiah 35:3-4, NIV) "And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it. … only the redeemed will walk there." (Isaiah 35:8-9, NIV)

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God of justice, Savior to all.
Came to rescue the weak and the poor,
Chose to serve and not be served;
Jesus You have called us,
Freely we've received,
Now freely we will give!

We must go-
Live to feed the hungry,
Stand beside the broken,
We must go.
Stepping forward,
Keep us from just singing,
Move us into action
We must go!

To act justly every day,
Loving mercy in every way.
Walking humbly before You, God.
You have shown us what You require,
Freely we've received;
Now freely we will give.

Fill us up and send us out!
Fill us up and send us out!
Fill us up and send us out, Lord!

God of Justice
© 2004 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Tim Hughes
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