Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- August 13, 2012
The Church of Jesus Christ has the opportunity and obligation to serve the injustices of society in Jesus’ name. Protecting the life of the unborn and elderly, providing for widows and orphans, caring for the sick and dying, and visiting those in jail or prison allows the church to engage in the culture. Compassion is not just a feeling, but a meaningful effort to get involved. A secular society needs a Savior to save its soul of injustice.
Who is the church? It is both an institution and the individual believers who make up the Body of Christ. We are responsible corporately and personally to serve society with good deeds and with the good news of salvation in Jesus. Words without works is dead faith, and works without words is ashamed faith. Thus, the Body of Christ is light and life for a dark and dying society.
“Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Timothy 5:8
So, where does the family of faith first show it cares? You start by providing for your family: your household and your relatives. It may be transportation to get them to work, a prayer over the phone, a rent payment, groceries, or sponsoring their attendance at an intensive marriage retreat. Families who follow Jesus are a compelling force for good in the culture.
Secondly, the Body of Christ is to care for its own. There is a spiritual kinship that benefits those who serve the King of Kings. Who do you know in your church whose tears silently cry out for care? Who is too embarrassed to ask for financial help, but your anonymous generosity would be a tourniquet to their bleeding budget? The wounds of social injustice are a wake up call for aggressive acts of kindness.
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
Lastly, the Church is called to engage the culture as a whole in social justice. Serving the poor and needy, defending the rights of the unborn, and upholding biblical marriage are right strategies for the righteous. The good news of Jesus goes to the heart for salvation, the mind for renewal, and the body for purification. Social justice for the Church is modeling Christ’s actions of preaching, teaching, giving, feeding and clothing. We love children and honor the elderly. As the Church grows in its influence the need for government lessens. Where the Lord reigns above—justice rains down on society.
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27
Related Readings: Deuteronomy 14:29; Isaiah 1:17; Titus 2:14; Ephesians 2:19
Prayer: Heavenly Father, break my heart for what breaks Yours. Use me to initiate Your social justice.
Post/Tweet this today: Where the Lord reigns above—justice rains down on society.
#Lord #justice
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On the email the first scripture quoted says 1timothy 6:10 however the correct scripture is Galatians 6:10 as in the blog. Please make corrections to email.
In the email I recivied this a.m. it listed the scripture as 1 Timothy 6:10. This should probably be corrected. It caught my attention. I appreciate these morning encouragements and think it should be corrected. This is good meat for the day.
Thank you.
That first scripture verse is from the book of Galatians, not 1 Timothy.
P.S. I love reading these devotionals! They really are a blessing to my soul. Thank you for putting the time in to let God lead you in this.
I am not sure the term “social justice” is the correct term to use for this devotional. According to Wikpedia, “Social justice involves a greater degree of economic egalitarianism through progressive taxation, income redistribution, or even property redistribution.” I agree that we need love and care for one another but not sure “taxation and redistribution” is the best way to accomplish this but rather people should be giving of themselves freely. Thanks.