I Can't Breathe

“I can’t breathe.”

These could have been the final words of a COVID-19 patient on a ventilator.

Sadly, they were the last words of George Floyd while being restrained by four police officers.

Now the nation, indeed the world, is outraged by the injustice.

As Christians, we too must take a stand against injustice.

There are so many references to justice in scripture that I cannot list them all here.

That’s indicative of just how important justice is to God.

It should be equally important to us.

Many people think that God, whom we see in the Old Testament, is vindictive.

Yet the following verse shows us that God cares deeply about justice.

Isaiah 1:17 (NET) - Learn to do what is right. Promote justice. Give the oppressed reason to celebrate. Take up the cause of the orphan. Defend the rights of the widow.

Meaningful change is possible.

But we must be willing to allow God to change us from within.

Ezekiel 36:26 (NET) - I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your body and give you a heart of flesh.

But what of those who are victims of injustice?

The same God continues to love them deeply.

Psalm 34:18 (NET) - The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he delivers those who are discouraged.

God is clear about justice; He is equally clear on vengeance.

Romans 12:19 (NET) - Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

The days to come will reveal how we choose to respond to injustice.

We must remember that Christ commands us to love our neighbor.

I hope we take His command completely to heart.

We had better, because God sees all and will hold us accountable.

Hebrews 4:13 (NET) - And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.

I pray we all can make a fresh start.

Perhaps our very youngest can teach us all a valuable lesson.

After all, no one is born knowing how to hate.

If we take these lessons to heart, we can all move forward.

Even what now seems distant can happen!

Amos 5:24 (NET) - Justice must flow like torrents of water, righteous actions like a stream that never dries up.

We must be willing to talk.

More importantly, we must be willing to listen.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, June 12, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, June 19, 2020