​Lately you can feel it in the very atmosphere - the weight, the tension, the sorrow, the accusation, the desperation, the flickering hope. In the course of a few weeks, pastors from pulpits around the country have turned their focus to themes of justice and the oppressed. Their message is all around us, and most people are desperate for change of some kind, desperate to do the right thing, or desperate just to survive another day. ​

I live in Atlanta, one of the current “hot” cities.  Justice is a buzzword, and I’ve increasingly wondered how many of us truly understand what it means. I know I’m just beginning to scratch the surface.  See, it’s easy in times that are hard to be quick to speak; to be quick to think that my perspective is right; my solutions are the ones everyone else needs to heed. But if everyone has the “answer,” surely that means no one does.

My family and I participated in a march with a truly inspiring Christian organization committed to racial reconciliation in Jesus’ name here in Atlanta.  There was beautiful expression of unity and exhorting one another to put aside bias, humble ourselves, and love wholeheartedly. There was much good yet, even a noble march is not immune to the pointing of fingers and divisive statements.  Some demonized certain groups of people, others exalted human strength rather than trust in God. {These were not statements by the organization but rather that of the signage displayed by individuals}. I found myself encouraged by the expressions of unity, but also discouraged to see how far we still have to go to answering Jesus’ prayer in John 17 that we would be one. How can there be unity/change when we can’t even agree on what “justice” looks like?
 
Meditation
Isaiah 40:13,14—Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows him his counsel? Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding? (ESV)
 
These verses leave me in awe. While I am wading through the sin and error of my culture and own human bias, I have communion with One who founded the very way of justice. As long as I look to the right or to the left, expecting politics or individuals to have the answer, I am missing looking up, into the eyes of the One who judges perfectly. I clearly see in the struggle around my city/nation, that we are all desperate for answers, for change, for hope. Yet, the vast majority of the time we are missing the One who actually sees rightly. 

No one taught God the “path of justice,” as Isaiah writes. The very idea is absurd! How foolish we humans must look when we are quick to speak, to assign blame, to tune into our news stations instead of poring over the Word of God, and crying out for wisdom and understanding. For God has not withheld understanding from us. Proverbs 28:5 says, “Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely” (ESV).  We don’t have to flail about in confusion or arrogantly claim to have the answers. We know the One who does, and when we look to Him, He in turn is faithful and supplies wisdom and understanding.

I have hope that in these trying times, God is faithful to keep His promise. For too long, many of us have been apathetic about justice. I know I have been. God is not apathetic. He is zealous for His bride to be one. Let us not waste this hour, this opportunity to contend for true reconciliation in Jesus’ name! But may we be slow to speak, quick to humble ourselves, faithful to sit before God and to learn His way of Justice so that the prayer of Jesus may be answered!
 
Inspiration
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.—Martin Luther King, Jr.
 
©2020 Sarah Tegtmeier ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.     

​{Sarah is the daughter of Dan York} 

Lisa was quite frustrated with Jacov.  He and his wife were not in agreement when it came to living sensibly.  She wisely stewarded resources while he grew up living lavishly.  Their arguments over finances and possessions put significant strain on their marriage. His lack of preparation and impatience often caused them unnecessary challenges. Finally, in desperation to bring peace, Jacov found a marriage counselor that he and Lisa could go to for help.  To their surprise, the counselor actually made their sessions pleasant and more importantly, he equipped them with ten guidelines to help them live sensibly. He encouraged them that if they both observed these recommendations they should have less friction and fighting in their marriage

They said they would do it, the task well defined
But then they turned left, then right, then behind.
They scorned those in power subverting their will 
When sudden calamity finished their thrills.
So don’t hitch your wagon with those who rebel
Unless you would like your pain to excel.
 
Meditation
Proverbs 24:21,22—My son, fear the LORD, as well as the king, and don’t associate with rebels, for destruction from them will come suddenly; who knows what distress these two can bring?
​

Meditation
Daniel 1:17—God gave these four young men knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom.  Daniel also understood visions and dreams of every kind.
 
Daniel, probably in part because of my given name, has always been my hero.  In studying his Old Testament prophetic book that contains his story, there are at least five superb applications that ought to inspire us to be like him.

The dictionary uses the following definition for the word discretion—“1. the power or right to decide or act according to one's own judgment; freedom of judgment or choice . . . 2. The quality of being discreet, especially with reference to one's own actions or speech; prudence or decorum.”[1]  Discretion seems to be an increasingly neglected concept in our society.  More and more people freely express their opinion or take action either with little prior thought to the consequences or with the deliberate decision to cause harm.  For example, on Columbus Day, a national holiday, police in New York City have to protect statutes erected for Christopher Columbus for fear that people will vandalize or destroy them. Instead of taking into account the pride that Italian Americans have in a famous explorer, protestors feel justified in defacing or tearing down his monuments because of the perceived harm he caused to native Americans.  

Forty-four men wrote over a period of sixteen centuries sixty-six books that display coherent unity and progressive revelation from Genesis to Revelation.[1] The Bible reveals God’s redemption plan for humanity. It offers the best leadership, marriage, child-raising, family-relations, financial, conduct, attitude, character, teamwork, physical, spiritual, emotional and wisdom-producing advice and instruction on the planet. Yet, I believe we would be shocked, if we knew how many Jesus-followers have never read through this supreme gift from God. 

​Meditation
Colossians 1:9,10—For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you.  We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God.
 

​“Charles Clark cleans toilets at Trinity High School in Euless, Texas. But he also helps kids turn their lives around — not because it was his job, but because it needed to be done . . .”[1]  You can watch him in action at http://omeleto.com/215307/.  Charles is committed to excellence.  This janitor takes pride in sweeping away dirt, mopping floors and sanitizing rooms because he takes his job seriously.  When he is not cleaning or repairing, he pours his life into mentoring teenagers who need guidance and the reassurance that someone loves and cares about them.  Mr. Clark understands that the students who populate Trinity High School are the greater investment.  So in the natural flow of work, he makes time to listen, to encourage and to touch the hearts of students.  

Loquacy ran up the red winding trail as fast as his four little legs would take him. He did not stop until he reached the wide brown mound where Sage lived.  The old wolf sat above the entrance and looked curiously as Loquacy panted, trying to catch his breath.  

​“Help me Sage,” the young Chihuahua gasped.  “I seem to have made a mistake and I don’t know what to do.”  

A man takes boxes of jelly beans and pours them on the floor.  He then goes on to illustrate that each jelly bean represents a day in a person’s life. (http://omeleto.com/193535/) Using an average lifetime of 77.76 years he pours out 28,385 jelly beans.  Next he forms piles according to how the average person’s time will be spent.  We see the following breakdown:

• The first 15 formative years take up 5470 beans. 
• Sleep—8447 days
• Eating, drinking preparing food—1,635 days
• Work—3202 days
• Commuting to and from work—1099 days
• Watching television—2676 days
• Household chores and shopping—1576 days
• Caring for the needs of family/friends—564 days
• Bathing, grooming, bathroom time—671 days
• Community Activities, religious, civic duties—720
• The remaining 2325 beans represent our discretionary time. 

​Dr. Jerry White shares an insightful story in his book Rules To Live By.  A young lieutenant forgot to wear his tie with his dress uniform on the day he had to brief a general.  Not having enough time to return home, he buttoned up his raincoat and wore it into the meeting.  When the general asked him why he was wearing his raincoat, the young man admitted he’d forgotten to wear his tie.  So, the general told him to take off his raincoat and then he asked everyone present for the meeting to remove their neckties.[1]  


[1]Jerry White, Rules to Live By, Colorado Springs: NavPress, ©2010, ps 112,113

​George really loves his three sons and he also really loves scouting.  As a teenager he significantly grew through his scouting experience and remembers the pride on his father’s face when he made Eagle Scout.  If circumstances were different he would still be a scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts.  When his oldest son, Hal, was in the scouts, George invested time in him so he was able to compete and do well against older boys.  But Hal got to a place where he didn’t enjoy scouting and wanted out.  He shared with his mom Shannon his desire to quit and she felt the stress of wanting to help him while knowing how passionate George was about his sons becoming Eagle Scouts.  

According to our guide, if a person spent four seconds looking at each item in the Musee du Louvre in Paris, it would take four years to see everything!   Ranging from paintings like Michelangelo’s Mona Lisa, Tiziano Vecellio’s Titien, and Antonio Puccio’s Pisanello, to amazing clay and marble sculptures, to the architecture and ceiling paintings on the edifice itself, the Louvre was both inspiring and thought-provoking.   

​Admiral Yi Sun-Shin (1545–98)is one of the most famous military heroes in Korean history.  He was born into a poor family but through hard work and effort rose to become a brilliant strategist and Admiral.  At the age of 28 he took the government examination to become an officer but during the practical portion fell off his horse and failed.  Shamed by his failure he worked harder and four years later he retook the exam and passed. Eventually his persistence and wisdom convinced his superiors to give him command of a naval station in Cholla province.