Hello
For centuries, persons of color have been the object of prejudice and violence. And, at each point when it seems to be addressed, something happens yet again to derail the process. For centuries religious groups have meted out violence against each other and often it goes unchecked until someone ‘important’ is impacted.
Might I suggest that humanity has a sin problem, which manifests in prejudicial acts of violence and dehumanization. In response to the violence experienced by the other; our natural inclination is retaliation. And, to some extent, it is cathartic – providing much needed defusing of tension. Except that violence generally begets further violence and hostilities; rather than solve anything, in the moment.
Today’s Holy Nougat offers another option; not the most favored but definitely worth considering.
“Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:6 NLT
Before challenging me on the viability of this option; let us be clear – the Bible chronicles several instances of overcoming the enemy God’s way. I especially am drawn to King Hezekiah’s petitioning God’s throne regarding Sennacherib’s threats (2 Kings 18-19) – God sorted out the matter. And when put on restriction; Daniel went before his God in what could only be described as civil disobedience.
My dears, awaiting on and acting under divine instruction yields its own reward – the satisfaction of knowing that we are in accordance with God’s will, and the recognition that God does hear and respond positively to the cries of God’s children. Sometimes the yes seems long in coming. Probably long after we’ve given up and maybe after we take matters into our own hands (and sometimes it feels like the only way forward).
But the concerted cry of God’s children does not go ignored. Part of the problem is – we aren’t all always praying for the same outcome. Even when we pray Your will be done’, some of us desire our own will and not God’s. Seeking God’s will may not always offer the preferred option; but it usually causes us to sin less.
In seeking God’s will, in asking God’s direction; we are declaring war on sin – racism; violence; murder; thievery; hatred; lying; idolatry; adultery and every other sin including injustice, inequalities, jealousy and overworking. For until we get the sin problem addressed; inhumane actions will continue to flourish.
I pray that each of us will seek God’s direction for addressing our individual and collective sin problems in a world broken by sin’s dis-ease.
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
