God, I’ve heard what our ancestors say about you,
and I’m stopped in my tracks, down on my knees.
Do among us what you did among them.
Work among us as you worked among them.
And as you bring judgment, as you surely must,
remember mercy. Habakkuk 3:2
Unless you have been living in seclusion over the past few years, you have to know things have been spinning out of control across this nation and the world in general. Citizens are shooting each other out of anger and fear like in the old west. Families are falling apart, children are taking their own lives. Our leaders are constantly bickering over anything that is opposite of the other group. Every trip to the grocery store keeps costing us more for the necessities. And the list goes on and on. And it seems there is less and less that we can do to change things.
Our only hope is in the One who has the ability to not only change “circumstances” but hearts and minds of the people who make up this world. When we think about the amazing things God has done throughout the ages, how when people would stop trying to change things and turn to Him, He would always show up and save them. And they were still living under judgment and the Law. But now, those of us who have received Jesus as their Savior and Lord have received that mercy and grace, as Paul says in Romans 8:1 Now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. And although that is wonderful and amazing news, our hearts should be so saddened for all those who are going to have to face the White Throne of Judgment.
So how should we help them not only for all eternity but right now? By reminding them of their sins and responding in kind as they treat us? Since those ways are not only not helpful, but they are the exact opposite of what Jesus taught us. We need to love them with the same radical love of Jesus that showed our Father’s heart. By living out what we truly believe so they can know and understand they are loved beyond our human understanding. Then when they hear the Word, they will know it is true and Holy Spirit stirring their hearts will lead them to Jesus as He draws them by His love. Romans 12:21 puts it so clearly, we overcome evil with good. We can never go wrong with kindness and love, and most times it doesn’t cost us a thing except our own pride and self-centeredness
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