A Note of Encouragement

from Ciloa

   

  

 

An old wooden church falling apart.

A house divided against itself will fall.
Luke 11:17b
Which Lives Matter?

Volume XVI, Issue 30 

July 25, 2016 
Long ago a woman went to David, King of Israel, and told him of her two sons who had fiercely fought each other. No one tried to stop them. Then one violently struck the other, killing him. Her family rose up against her, demanding that the surviving son be brought to them so they could kill him.
 
David offered her protection, but she cried out, "Let the guilt be on me and my father's house, not on the King." She was not concerned about herself. She wanted David to stand up to those who wished to ignore the law and divide the family. She would take any guilt if he would have mercy on her son.
 
David assured her he would punish anyone who threatened her, but she cried out again. "Remember the Lord your God so that the avenger of blood will not destroy any more, or they will destroy my son." David replied that no harm will come to her son.
 
Then the wise woman said to the King, "Why have you done the same against God's people? Your son in a rage killed his brother and is banished. God's people are divided. We all must die and life is brief, but God does not cast aside a life. He creates a way for the one who is banished to return to Him. Yet you have done nothing to bring your own son home, to heal your people. You are the guilty one."1
 
People in pews separated by a broad aisle. We condemn the wrongs in this world, but often follow a similar path. People treat us unfairly, so we treat them unfairly. When prejudice is used against us, we rise in the name of "our people" to discriminate against them. Where there is division, we make the division greater.
 
There is evil in this world. It kills, maims and destroys. Many experience it firsthand. But justice is never achieved through injustice. Wrong cannot produce right. Anger will not create peace. And God's people cannot BE God's people when they choose to be divided.
 
People of different races, ages, and gender, united as they hold hand and pray. Jesus brought division, separating His followers and the rest of the world. But for us who believe, He had a special prayer. Father...may they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent me and have loved them even as You have loved me.2
 
These days many have raised a banner proclaiming "________ lives matter!" Fill in the blank as you wish. Black, White, Blue, Latinos, Asian, Native, etc. While each is true, there's a problem.
 
Following one banner, WE are the focus. WE become more important than THEM. WE stop caring for OTHERS. WE forget YOU because only "OUR lives matter." No unity. No peace. No love.
 
Young black child praying with two white police officers.  People of all backgrounds united in prayer.  Black woman hugging a crying white police office.
  
God has not cast aside even one life. He sent Jesus as His Way for each of us to return to Him. But we cannot follow God and divide His Family. For when evil comes, we must stand...together.
 
Be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle and patient with each other. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.3
Take care & be God's,

Chuck


1 See 2 Samuel 14:4-14
2 John 17:20-23 NIV
3 See Colossians 3:12-14 NLT
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