by Pam Zwally
Scripture: Matthew 7
Black lives matter…White lives matter… Police lives matter! I get the message! You want to stand up against injustice. I agree. And for the few people who are protesting in non-violent ways, thank you! But the rest? Let’s talk about injustice and prejudice and the wrong in the world?
In Matthew 7, the Bible says, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Does that scare you? It should. I know it scares me.
As Christians, we are taught equality. We are taught how to treat people. “What would Jesus do?” was a very popular question a few years ago. Yes. I had the bracelet! The Golden Rule says, “Do unto others as you would have others do to you” (Luke 6:31). Understand that violence begets violence…prejudice begets prejudice….love begets love.
Now…the big question…should I judge all people by the actions of the looters and rioters? Should I hate the haters? Should I respond to violence with violence? Should I kill because someone else was killed? Removing police from our streets? If we remove the law enforcement from our cities, what do you think will happen? Order? Calm? Justice? or absolute chaos and insanity? My heart weeps for the innocent people and children who will continually be pushed down or judged or passed over just because of their color and for the innocent people caught in the crossfire. I’m talking to ALL here. Leo Tolstoy said, “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” If this is the state of the United States of America, I fear God will soon say, “Fine, have it your way, let’s see how you do on your own.” I don’t want to be on my own. Been there! Tried that! Didn’t do very well! God is our refuge and strength.
I’m praying for our country and our leaders. I’m praying for our people (all of them). I’m praying for an end to all injustice. I’m praying for people everywhere who are being judged for their race, nationality, beliefs, profession, etc. Jesus loves us all! The good, the bad and the ugly. I’m praying for change. Change how we treat others and see the effect it has. Easy? No. It’s very, very hard. It is in our nature to lash out at those who hurt us. But do it anyway. Change anyway. Seek Jesus first and see how He can change lives, communities, attitudes, generations. To Him, YOUR life matters.
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s
eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck
out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your
own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
”For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not
perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the
world through Him. 18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands
condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict:
Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were
evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be
exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have
done has been done in the sight of God.” John 3:16-21