Let Justice Roll Down

I think ever since this past summer the idea of justice has been very important to me, and I do not just mean it in your typical social, political or economic sense. The reality is that we live in a world that hurts, it burns and it all seems so unjust at times. But on the flip side I have continued to wrestle with the idea that despite of of this, we still have a God who is just. He is steadfast in His love and there is compassion that He is ready and willing to shower upon us.

However, sometimes it is difficult to remember that and to see it playing out in our lives. The world is not as is it meant to be, but that day is coming in the future. Meanwhile, we have to live in a world that is often plagued by hypocrisy, with people succumbing to corruption that poisons their lives and families.

Recently I have been drawn to two songs by Jon Foreman titled "Instead of a Show" and "Equally Skilled" which came out on his EPs quite a few years back. I rediscovered them with a new heightened excitement for his new set of EPs which are slated to be released sometime in 2015. Almost subconsciously I think I was drawn to these two songs not just for their simple beauty but for their lyrical outlook on justice. They act as a reminder that the world is indeed backwards and not right. Even the church at times is at fault, because it is made up of humans. We still crave justice just as much as anytime before. On a basic level things have not changed a whole lot since Jesus's day.

Upon doing some further searching, I found out that "Instead of a Show" is closely tied to Amos 5:21-24 and "Equally Skilled" is related to Micah 7. Reading the lyricism of Foreman next to the actual text was enlightening, because I can see someone taking these words and finding truth in them.

Eventually justice will roll down like a mighty river but our LORD will plead on our behalf, executing judgment as it meant to be. Perhaps we do not understand it now and perhaps we yearn for justice to come quickly. And it will. It will. For you. For me. For everyone. But the beauty is, it will be divine. It will be wholly perfect, wholly good in its scope.

In a sense it causes a deep shudder within me as I survey my own hypocrisy and it also gives me a great deal of peace at the same time. That a paradox that may never be figured out much like the God who created us.

All the Glory be His.

A Fresh Start and The Faith of Moses

It was a really encouraging night today at bible study! We met for the first time this quarter in someone's apartment and the turnout was a lot better than I expected with a handful of new faces which was great! Also, the piece of scripture we went over was pertinent to where I find myself right now and I hope it was relatable to the guys as well.

In Exodus 3 and 4 we read and discussed how God chooses the man Moses to be the deliverer of his people from the Egyptians. Obviously, if you know anything about Moses he is somewhat of a Biblical hero who was given the 10 commandments, is attributed with writing the Pentateuch, floated as a baby on the Nile, led Israel through their years in the wilderness and so on and so forth. He seems like an awfully impressive titan with a long resume of achievement. 

Then, you actually read this passage and there is a different picture. Here's a man who has been a shepherd in the wilderness because he murdered a man and had to flee Egypt. Here's a man who does not know why God has chosen him. Here's a man who is potentially unsure of the God he is even addressing. Here is a man of seemingly little faith and with a acknowledged problem for eloquent speech.

Is this some kind of joke? This cannot be the same man of so many exploits? And yet Moses is only one of the many Biblical examples of people that the Lord uses in spite of themselves. He is capable of making straight lines out of crooked sticks and they only further His glorious plan. 

I'm sure that if many of us look in the mirror and if we are honest, we might see an individual a lot like Moses in some ways. I know I often ask the Lord, Why me Lord? I can't do this. I can't speak. I'm not outgoing. I don't have the knowledge. 

In fact, my time as a leader has really stretched me because I have been put in many of those types of situations. Every time the Lord grows me and proves his faithfulness to me although I may not see it right away. Even in leading Bible study, which I would probably willingly leave to someone else, I see the Lord working. 

On a larger scale it's a good reminder that if we are only willing to surrender fully and completely to God until He is control, we will lead lives of purpose without fear or restraint. It can be such a hard thing partially due to human pride and partially because we think we are too broken.

But if we look back to Moses and how he is described in Hebrews (Chapters 3, 11), the blemishes are all but forgotten and his faithfulness to the Lord is remembered (even if it was the size of a mustard seed). In essence, we might see ourselves as the old testament version before Christ, but I AM sees us in a new light, as pure and fully realized heirs in Christ. 

That is such great news and while I am still excited about the encouragement of tonight, I pray that I can continue to surrender my whole life to Christ whether it is my vocations, my future, my relationships and anything else that weighs on me.

All the Glory Be His.

Tonight's Large Group and Freshman Year

Today was a blast from the past and it reminded how quickly we can forget. Even someone like me.

Set-up for our weekly meeting tonight was far from simple and problem free. Half the issues I didn't even know about much less how to remedy them. I just knew that things were not going the way they were supposed to which happens most weeks, but this week was seemingly on steroids.

It was the kind of meeting that began with me accidentally having my water spill drenching my bible. It was an evening of miscommunication, frantic hurrying, sweating and numerous roadblocks put in the way of a successful night. Honestly, it reminded me a lot of freshmen year when our movement was even smaller than it is now. Things were constantly frantic, there were always last minute fixes and I probably felt like pulling my hair out more than once.

The beauty of that year however is that some of our worst meetings ended up being the best. Because when it was all said in done, it did not matter what we delivered and what we brought. God was able to work through it and show himself despite our screw ups and pitfalls. He was magnified in spite of us. Amazing!

I think we might have unconsciously forgotten that a little bit. We are far from a well greased piece of machinery, but we have undoubtedly come a long way. I think it takes a meeting like this every once and a while to humble us and straighten out our priorities. It takes a time like tonight for us to come to the Lord in prayer and give all control to Him, because we are at the point of not knowing what to do next. Why isn't that our first response anyways?

All in all it was a good reminder and I dearly hope I do not have to receive another one! First, because I hate that uncomfortable feeling. Two, because I want to remain mindful of my need for Jesus to work in all our meetings. Not just during worship or the message, but before, during and after everything happens. He is not a God to be compartmentalized in sections of our lives, but a God who wants to saturate all areas completely.

Let us remember that tonight as we humble ourselves before Him.

All Glory to Him.