PAUSING
Find a quiet place where you can be alone. Take a few seconds or minutes to pause and be still; to breathe deeply, and to re-center any scattered thoughts or desires onto the presence of God.
PRAYING
Lord, let the knowledge of your love fuel my commitment, inform my passions, stir my gratitude, and help me transform the world - for You and Your Glory, Amen.
ENCOUNTERING HIS WORD
“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will bring justice to the nations.
He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”
- Isaiah 42:1-4
"The long arm of the Lord bends towards justice, to believe that one day the proud will be overthrown and the humble raised up and the hungry filled with good things...Like a bell tolling from another world, Jesus' promise of rewards proclaims that no matter how things appear, there is no future in evil, only in good." - Philip Yancey.
The Gospels of the New Testament tells us that this prophetic word in Isaiah is answered in Jesus. His ministry and focus, heart and call, was for the relentless pursuit of justice. He fought against oppression but he also did it by extending grace. Is there any room for us to join Jesus as he pursues justice in this world, but to do it in a way where we also love the perpetrators of injustice as well as we can love the victims of it?
Matthew 5:43-48
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
REFLECTING AND PRAYING
Is there an area of my heart that the relentless love of Jesus is working to soften?
"Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away" - Song of Solomon 8:7a
Find a quiet place where you can be alone. Take a few seconds or minutes to pause and be still; to breathe deeply, and to re-center any scattered thoughts or desires onto the presence of God.
PRAYING
Lord, let the knowledge of your love fuel my commitment, inform my passions, stir my gratitude, and help me transform the world - for You and Your Glory, Amen.
ENCOUNTERING HIS WORD
“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will bring justice to the nations.
He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”
- Isaiah 42:1-4
"The long arm of the Lord bends towards justice, to believe that one day the proud will be overthrown and the humble raised up and the hungry filled with good things...Like a bell tolling from another world, Jesus' promise of rewards proclaims that no matter how things appear, there is no future in evil, only in good." - Philip Yancey.
The Gospels of the New Testament tells us that this prophetic word in Isaiah is answered in Jesus. His ministry and focus, heart and call, was for the relentless pursuit of justice. He fought against oppression but he also did it by extending grace. Is there any room for us to join Jesus as he pursues justice in this world, but to do it in a way where we also love the perpetrators of injustice as well as we can love the victims of it?
Matthew 5:43-48
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
REFLECTING AND PRAYING
Is there an area of my heart that the relentless love of Jesus is working to soften?
- Continue to pray for one situation in our world today where you'd like to see the Lord, "Arise, and be lifted up". (from yesterdays prayers)
- Continue to pray for one situation in your personal life where you'd like to see the Lord, "be the sure foundation for these times". (from yesterdays prayers)
- Ask the Spirit to make you aware of someone in your life who feels "bruised" in some way. Pray that the Lord draws near to them and strengthens them.
"Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away" - Song of Solomon 8:7a