CWW Week 24 - Day 1 - Standing Against Evil

Scripture

Proverbs 31:8-9: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

This passage clearly calls on people to advocate for those who are marginalised and powerless.

Author Ellen White famously wrote a passage that rings loud in the hearts of many.

“The greatest want of the world is the want of men—men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.”

There comes a time in every persons life where they stand at the cross roads of destiny in a time of crisis. The pulse quickens and the heart beats in the chest like a bass drum. A quick examination of consequences screams “don’t do it” but your conscience tells you that it will not be ignored.

I have stood at this intersection of Safety Road and Courage Drive many times. Sometimes I turned into Safety Road and kept looking in the rear view mirror wondering if I took the wrong turn. It’s hard to make a U turn in this situation.

But here’s the thing. As challenging as it has always been to take the Courage Road exit I can say that win or lose, I never regretted it. The losing always came with a huge dose of character development and so did the profound sense of doing the right thing when I tasted the fruits of victory in Christ.

When we put it all on the line regardless of the consequences, we must be guided by our faith and the Holy Spirit. To do anything else is folly and dangerous.

When we act in our conscience we need to reflect on our motives and have our methods be indicative of love for others and selflessness. Any thought of reward for sacrifice makes void the whole exercise because it puts self ahead of others in the process.

Todays scripture urges us to speak up, not shoot up or beat up. Fundamentalism is a cancer that turns justice into stupidity as people take the law into their own hands.

In this process the battle plan must always conform to God’s Laws. You can’t stand for righteousness while tramping all over God’s laws for character development. One sin is not defeated by committing another sin in the process.

I have always used a mantra in speaking out with others seeking to see the right done to those who can’t speak for themselves. “You stand I stand, you fall I fall.”

As Christians we are often in conflict with other christians who warn us to stay in our box. It’s not our job, we are meant to turn the other cheek. Tell that to Martin Luther and William Wilberforce. Warn Martin Luther King to stay in his box as millions of black Americans faced racial hatred and bigotry.

When we as professed Christians do nothing we are not only enabling evil to continue, we are representing Christ in a weak and feeble way. Did He not stand up to the leaders of the time in defence of the sick and down trodden?

A life that of relevance requires us to act. To stand in our conscience “though the heavens fall.”

If we don’t, then every mercy and gift that God has given us is valued as naught.

Abiding in Christ as we do, we pray for a heart to serve others and a desire to do His will with compassion and love void of hatred and strident condemnation. Judgement and condemnation are God’s responsibility not ours. We must always do Gods work and not Gods job.

Questions.

1. Have you ever made the wrong turn at the destiny intersection?
2. Are you sitting on the fence observing others going under?
3. Do you feel that sense of shame as you leave the battlefield not wanting to look back? 

Prayer.

Dear Lord, Papa God.

Help me to have a faith that knows and not hopes that I am saved. Help me Papa, to choose the right turn at the intersections of my life as I face the easy way home or the road less travelled. As I stand under Your banner Lord Jesus, equip me with the full armour of God and instruct me in wisdom and mercy for the love of others whom I may never have met. For this is my prayer in Jesus Holy name. Amen.

Have a great day today with Jesus

Graham Hood.