Not of this world, but in it.
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Even as the Light of Warmth Burns For Us During Cold Days,
So God Rules Even When We See Rampant Injustice.
Daniel 2:44
And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall this kingdom be left to another people. It shall crush all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand for ever;
Luke 22:29-30
and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Words of Grace For Today
What can we hope for? While reports of injustices against other people receive from most a shrug of the shoulders (if even that), the cries for help rise from new and old corners: the newly homeless, wildfire evacuees with nothing left at home, drowning victims of illegal immigrants, volcano or flood or storm or drought displaced, the innocent and cruelly convicted, the victims of unjust wars and conflicts, the victims of spousal abuse (both men and women) … and the children, always the children.
We can hope and work to create a just world, a just kingdom where we rule and provide justice for all. Though this has been clearly demonstrated to be mostly a futile effort. For if we rule, we will rule unjustly like all others. And whatever our efforts may be we can never eliminate injustices in our lands or on this earth. We humans are too perverted towards sin and doing others harm to be able to overcome all that we do against each other.
We can and should still work to bring justice where we can, little as that may be. One case at a time.
We can and should look to God’s promises that God’s Kingdom is already arrived on earth. We may not see it for all the injustices of all kinds in every corner. Yet God has established God’s rule, since the beginning of time.
Trusting God’s promises gives us courage to take on injustices, and keep working even when it seems we make no progress.
Already we feast at Jesus’ table.
Already we enjoy peace that surpasses all understanding.
Already God has judged those who need to be judged.
Thankfully we do not need to be, nor will we ever be able to, judge the 12 tribes or anyone else. Fortunately that is God’s work, and we can trust God to do it right.
This is another day in God’s kingdom, where God rules, and we work as God’s servants to share life abundant with as many people as we are able.