relationships (Psalm 119:49-56) We Are Not the Ethics-Police

(Psalm 119:49-56) 

49 Remember the word to Your servant,
     In which You have made me hope.
50 This is my comfort in my misery,
     That Your word has revived me.
51 The arrogant utterly deride me,
     Yet I do not turn aside from Your Law.
52 I have remembered Your judgments from of old, Lord,
     And comfort myself.
53 Burning indignation has seized me because of the wicked,
     Who abandon Your Law.
54 Your statutes are my songs 
     In the house of my pilgrimage.
55 Lord, I remember Your name in the night,
     And keep Your Law.
56 This has become mine,
     That I comply with Your precepts.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

It can be very disconcerting to consider all the sins and crimes that are happening around us and around the world, and even more disconcerting when it looks like there aren't many consequences for those who commit extremely heinous things.  But, in God's word, we can read about various events when the Lord dealt with sinful deeds, people and nations, in very mighty ways.  Therefore, we should seek and find comfort in knowing that God is sovereign, and that He's got this.

While, this is what we should be doing, we know from other Bible verses, that there are things Christians should NOT be doing...  

- since we are to be loving, kind and gracious, even to our enemies, we should not be arrogant in how and when we state things.  Even if we are speaking truth, everything we say and do should be done with God's sincere, unconditional love as our motive.  We are to "hate sin and love the sinner", but even this statement should not be flung about.  Since we are to treat others as we want to be treated, we should think about how we would want someone to speak to us about the Lord, and PRAY for God to give us His wisdom and the right words to say, and to know when we should remain silent.

- while it can be a comfort to know that God will deal with sin, this should not be our hope.  As it is the Lord's desire that all come to know Him, we should be praying that even our enemies might become believers, besides asking that His justice will prevail in all circumstances.  And then, understand that God will determine how He will answer our prayers!  

- we are not to be afraid, and we are not to worry, because God is more powerful than all other powers put together.  He is also all-knowing, and understands what needs to be done.

- regarding our fellow believers, we should not be tearing each other down, or waiting for someone to mess up so we can lord it over them.  When fellow believers stumble and make mistakes, we should not act like the ethics-police, but rather, if it is our place to do so, and if the situation requires this, in love and kindness, encourage them to turn things around as the Lord has directed.  We are to be edifying and building up one another, 

- therefore, our concern and focus should not be in how others are walking with the Lord, or not walking with the Lord... we should be focused on the Lord and working on our own, personal walk with the Lord, in His love, grace, peace and joy!

It is in the Lord, and His word and promises that we should find our comfort and hope.  And this hope is not a wishy-washy-type of "oh I hope so", it is a present confidence of things we know are true and of things yet to come - which is our guaranteed eternity in heaven with the Lord!  One thing about living in this hope is that we don't take it for granted.  If we say that we believe in God and His word and that our hope and trust is in Him, then we will love His commandments and know that they are for our benefit.  We will then be actively striving to live in His will, all in His strength, all to His glory!