Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – August 22, 2014
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. Proverbs 31:8-9
Some people cannot speak up for themselves. The widow and orphan who are in distress desperately need compassionate and competent advocates. Children trapped in human trafficking need to be rescued by the righteous. The unborn’s muted cry cries for a merciful voice. A foster child who is emotionally ravished prays for a family to speak up and invite him into their home. The poor and needy need legal, economic and spiritual advocacy to advance them forward. All around us, groups and individuals are stuck for lack of one person who will boldly speak up.
We who are saved are called by our Savior to say something–to do something. If we won’t, who will? How can we remain unmoved while one child remains exploited, one family famished for lack of food, one orphan homeless, or one widow in need of a warm house? We have an obligation, a duty to speak up for those whose rights have been trampled, even dismissed. Social systems are limited and have little spiritual discernment or assets. But those of us, who have been rescued by the grace and love of our Lord God are rich in His resources. We must speak up!
“Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, ‘Let not the king do wrong to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly’” (1 Samuel 19:4).
Almost every day we have opportunities to leave someone exposed to criticism or speak up on their behalf. Who can we defend at work? An associate who may have lost favor with a peer or supervisor? When a friend or family member is spoken ill of, we can point out their good traits and give them the benefit of the doubt. Silence is not an option for a courageous and caring heart. Yes, love has the back of those who don’t know what they don’t know. Love can’t keep quiet!
Above all, where do we need to speak up for our Savior’s sake? He does not need defending, but we need to be clear where we stand with Christ. We speak up for what breaks His heart. We are on a justice mission to fight injustices. We serve sinners for whose sins Jesus died.
We speak up for the lost in prayer, so they might come to celebrate in song the saving grace of God. Jesus speaks up today and says, “I forgive you,” so we speak up and say, “I forgive you.” He says, “I love you,” so we say, “I love you.” What our Master says to say and do, we say and do!
“Remember that I stood before you and spoke in their behalf to turn your wrath away from them” (Jeremiah 18:20).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, break my heart for what breaks Yours. Give me courage to speak up.
Related Readings: Genesis 50:4; 1 Kings 2:19; Ezekiel 3:17; John 12:49; Ephesians 4:25, 6:19
Post/Tweet today: Love has the back of those who don’t know what they don’t know. #wisdomhunters
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For the love of Shizhanna – she is forever in my heart! So not a coincidence that THIS was my devotional this morning! Very very thankful today to get this jolt…
God, thank you…thank you for the encouragement and the nudge to move!
God, thank you…Thank you for placing this on my heart!
I’ve been serving as part of our church leadership for over 20 years now and it still amazes me how hard it is to speak up when something or someone has gone in the wrong direction. I have the gift of exhortation so to bring encouragement and praise is not hard to do. But not bringing a word of correction when the opportunity is there is not being helpful either. I hate dealing with the fear of man so I have been asking the Lord to give me more of His love for His people to speak His words of life under any conditions and not just when its easy for me. And I desire to walk more in the fear of God and not man.
Dear Jennifer,
Thank you for your enthusiastic and encouraging response to the Wisdom Hunter’s devotionals, “Speak Up”. Isn’t it amazing that God absolutely knows when it is time for a child of His to hear
His words spoken through His Word, other people, devotionals, or circumstances. We give Him all the glory!
You are so right~ this was no coincidence!
Thank you again, Jennifer, we always love hearing from one of our Wisdom Hunters family.
Believing and trusting~
Gwynne
P.S. One of the shorter sentences in the devotional says it all:
“Love can’t keep quiet”. AMEN!
Dear Susan~
Thank you for your eloquent and sincere comments about speaking up. I imagine that you spoke the exact words that so many of our fellow wisdom hunters are feeling. Thank you for that. Your words were such a great reminder of not only wanting to help others through gentle and loving correction, but also pausing and asking our Heavenly Father for His divine discernment. Susan, thank you for being a role model of seeking Him out for guidance instead of just charging ahead with our own “earthly” solutions.
So thankful you took the time to reach out to us with your thoughts. We love hearing from our Wisdom Hunters family and look forward to hearing from you again.
We are thankful you are a fellow wisdom hunter. Blessings to you and yours.
Believing and trusting~
Gwynne
“Let your words always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”
Colossians 4:6