Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Dear Faith Family,
When I was in middle school, there was a social hierarchy that was very evident in my class. It was as if we were constantly competing in the game “King of the Mountain”. Have you ever played that game? It’s where you find the highest point on a hill or a platform and the goal is to be the one who occupies the high ground when the game ends. It’s a rough game! At my school, the athletes and pretty students always seemed to be at the top. The awkward and goofy students always seemed to be at the bottom. The rest seemed to battle for the “higher” ground in the middle. It’s no wonder middle school was so exhausting! It always felt like I had a long way to climb to be valued as a person.
It’s amazing even as we grow up, the social hierarchy still remains. We’ve just become more sophisticated with how we practice it. From the very beginning, God never intended for people to be considered above or below one another in their value as human beings. It is why he created us in his image. People have value because it has been given to them by God. And yet, as fallen humans we either actively or passively participate in our own “King of the Mountain” game with people around us and people around the world. It begins in our hearts, but flows to our words and actions and inactions.
In Micah 6:8, the prophet makes it clear that God is calling us back to his original intention for us when he says this:
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
How do we let go of our silly games and embrace this call? How does Jesus’ life and work make it not only possible but certain for us to be this kind of people? In a world where suffering is real and the sufferers seem to bear more of the brunt of this pandemic, we need justice. We need a way forward that restores hope and advocates for those who need it most. We need renewal. We need Jesus.
This week our
BibleProject
study is entitled “Justice”. Below you will find the link to the video and some discussion questions that will help you explore this theme in the Bible. You do not have to go through all of the passages and questions. You can just choose one for study. There are both Old Testament and New Testament options available to see the beauty of the gospel message on every page.
If you are a part of a Sunday School Class or Life Group, consider finding a way to connect online or in person. If you are not in a class or group, contact a friend and see if they would be interested in joining you in a discussion of this theme. Please be sure to practice safe social distancing practices if you get together in person. Let me know if you would like to get connected with others.
Here is this week's “Justice” video:
