Justice or Just Us?
“That’s not fair!”
Last week I mentioned this passage from Romans… It’s been sitting with me.
“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.”
(Romans 8:5-8 NIV)
The mind governed by “the flesh” is death
So I was thinking about this. It is easy to see it in the light of sin and greed and all things bad… but I also wondered… How does this relate to simple day-to-day living?
Maybe you’ve been in the situation… You walk to your car after a quick lunch errand, take out some coin from your back pocket to give to the car guard and the co-worker says “why did you do that? The car is no safer whether you give him money or not… it’s not like he will stop a thief!”
Sometimes we shrug… maybe we explain… probably not…
But… same scenario, and you take out the coin and the Holy Spirit says no… There is a R100 note in your wallet. Give that… and you do, because…
”those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.”
(Romans 8:5 NIV)
But what if the Holy Spirit asks you to do something that makes no sense in your business? Is it Fair?
Or maybe a personal choice. Forgive someone that society believes should not be forgiven? Where is the Justice?
”The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.”
(1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV)
My dad used to tell me when we did missionary work overseas, people would challenge him, and ask why we went to another country to serve people there… why not stay here and serve the local community, where there is just as much need… AND I can do more with less money…!
His response was: “…but you are here… you can take care of the people that need help here, can’t you?”
The thing is that we can look back at history and say yes, that was a good decision… what a brilliant businessman… but in the immediate consequences of being obedient to the Holy Spirit… the picture looks a lot different…
Think about Mary… the mother of Jesus.
Today, the Orthodox and Catholic churches revere her as a saint. She is the Holy Mother of our Saviour. She is beloved and painted as pure, and sinless. But think of her life.
An Angel came to Joseph and set him straight. Joseph knew and understood the assignment. But the Angel of the Lord didn’t come to the village. He didn’t come to the neighbours. They could all count and all see…
Her decision and chosen actions (and also Joseph’s) must have been judged and gossiped about and discussed around the water-well for years.
“Ah, there is Mary… she was always such a good girl! We will probably never know who the ’real’ father is… for shame, for shame…”
Or Joseph… “What a disgrace. How can he look her in the face… or us? Why doesn’t he do what is right by the community, and the LAW!? It is people like him that make our nation weak and impure…”
Which raised this question in me… I might be strong enough to oppose the way society finds something acceptable, and I might be able to defend what is Morally and Ethically defensible. But when it comes down to it. Can I fully follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit (Like Joseph… Like Mary… or like the Prophet Hosea who maried Gomer) knowing that nobody will understand… but still trusting God and being obedient to Him and pleasing Him remaining our only decission-making criteria?
Can we stay obedient to the Holy Spirit, not buckle under the pressure of society and friends, and make choices based on God’s Kingdom guidance?
…and if I then decide: YES, I will only follow God’s leading…
Can I please God… and that is enough?
Be blessed and make good choices!
