Happy "Justice for All" Saturday, Everyone!
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America; and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, Indivisible,with Liberty and Justice for All. We all know that, right?
I used to say it every morning in school, along with the Lord's prayer; and in grade school our teacher would even read a chapter from the Bible. What happened? "Justice for All" has been the cry for centuries. The very fact that it has been the same cry for centuries indicates that not all are getting the justice they feel they desire. In this Sunday's Sunday School lesson, I'll be teaching the concept of justice from the Bible and from the book of AMOS.
When God looks at you, what does he see? Let me just give you a few things he sees this morning. He sees through all the mist and haze of religious hypocrisy to what is going on in our hearts. He also see's through the tough guy skin that thinks loving Jesus is for sissies. And he sees a community of --- No, A world of --- people who are sinners that desperately need a Savior. Do you want to know what Amos found out? He found out that God's people usually don't have a problem when He points out other peoples sin. But, when He points out OUR sin, well, we aren't to "jiggy with it." It seems we cry for justice but we only really, truly want justice when we, ourselves benefit with no pain and all gain. Sooooooooooo, what will we learn from Amos on Sunday? We will learn the nature of our disobedience. We'll learn that the injustice of Amos's day is similar to today's issues. And very importantly, Amos will help us understand how to treat the less "well-off" around us; not just the less financially well-off, but the less enlightened, Biblically."
Friends, we all want "Justice for All." We all want freedom from something. May I point you, reverently, to the cross of Christ and say...freedom is not free! Amen!
