2024 11 24 RCM DEVOs V3 - YouTube
Introduction
In successive weeks at HTB, I interviewed two people of courage and faith. One, Ben Freeth, inspired by his faith in Jesus Christ, had taken a courageous stance against the unjust regime in Zimbabwe. As a result, he was beaten, tortured and forced to watch his elderly mother-in-law and father-in-law undergo torture, from which the latter eventually died. Yet in the midst of his suffering, he chose to love and bless the torturers.
The second was a pastor from one of the sixty countries around the world where physical persecution of Christians still takes place. He had been imprisoned and, at one stage, sentenced to death for no other reason than his faith in Jesus Christ. Yet in the face of extreme suffering he refused to deny his faith.
The lives of men and women like this are hugely inspiring, challenging and motivational.
Proverbs 29:1–9
29 Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes
will suddenly be destroyed —without remedy.
2 When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;
when the wicked rule, the people groan.
3 A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
4 By justice a king gives a country stability,
but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down.
5 Those who flatter their neighbours
are spreading nets for their feet.
6 Evildoers are snared by their own sin,
but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.
7 The righteous care about justice for the poor,
but the wicked have no such concern.
8 Mockers stir up a city,
but the wise turn away anger.
9 If a wise person goes to court with a fool,
the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.
Commentary
Inspirational champions of justice
I am inspired by the examples of churches, individuals and organisations that care deeply about justice for the poor. There is so much in the Bible about issues of poverty and justice. The Poverty and Justice Bible highlights over two thousand verses that wake us up to these issues.
Justice really matters. ‘By justice a king gives a country stability, but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down’ (v.4). It is terrible to live in a place where bribery of judges and politicians is normal. ‘A leader of good judgment gives stability; an exploiting leader leaves a trail of waste’ (v.4, MSG).
No justice system is perfect. However, it is a privilege to live in a country that has a good justice system.
‘When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan’ (v.2). In other words: ‘When good people run things, everyone is glad, but when the ruler is bad, everyone groans’ (v.2, MSG).
The righteous person has a clear conscience and can sing and be glad, whereas an evil person is snared by their own sin (v.6).
Caring about ‘justice for the poor’ (v.7) is the mark of a righteous life: ‘The good-hearted understand what it’s like to be poor; the hardhearted haven’t the faintest idea’ (v.7, MSG).
Prayer
Lord, help us to make a real difference to this world in seeking to bring justice to the poor, the homeless, the prisoners and the hungry.
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