Revelation 5:9-10 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
In my travels across the United States, I’ve come to a greater understanding of the racial divisions which seem to characterize much of the restlessness in America. While I was in Little Rock, Arkansas I spent time with a black pastor who was taught of the true legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. While historians will rightly record MLK as a civil rights leader, he was first and foremost a Baptist pastor, and was a biblical rights leader who saw that, in the Kingdom of God … there is NO RACE! That was the revelation which inspired MLK to speak out against the social injustice of his generation.
And King was not unique in the history of those who stood up against social injustice, but one voice among many others who understood and believed the Word of God. William Wilberforce in his mission to end slavery in England was compelled by his understanding of the Bible's view of humanity and God's ideal of human freedom. Through great perseverance, he succeeded in establishing God's perspective into the legal code, setting a modern precedent to this day. During the Civil War, the abolitionists were fighting to free those in the bondage of slavery, based in their understanding of human dignity, in that all men are made in God's very image.
Social justice is a Kingdom issue, as we’re called to defend those who cannot defend themselves, and to stand against all injustice. We recognize, however, that the deep root of injustice lies in the sin nature of every living soul, and has permeated all of society, in many ways entrenching itself in governments and laws in our time. Since we believe that righteousness can only begin with individual repentance and regeneration, we recognize the limits of our capacity to affect social change, especially in light of the Lord's descriptions of the Last days. But we are called to be salt and light, and our presence does preserve and illuminate culture through the gospel, so we seize every opportunity, individual and social, to represent Yeshua (Jesus), His truth and His salvation.
Some believers will be specifically called to champion issues of social justice, while others will minister personally to the disenfranchised and miserable victims of it. Wherever we are called in ministry or battle, the Holy Spirit will empower the solutions we bring, whether politically, socially or individually.
Be part of God’s solution by discovering and walking in your gifts and calling. Yeshua said, "Apart from me you can do nothing". The changes, improvements and reforms which emerge from Spirit filled ministry will good yield fruit, both now and in eternity.
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[worthy_plugins_devotion_single_body]A National Geographic article published a few years describing a real celestial event which took place at the time of the birth of Jesus reminded me of Risto Santala’s explanation in his book, “The Messiah in the New Testament in the Light of Rabbinical Writings”. He wrote about a conjunction of major planets that took place which could have led the wise men from the east, to Israel.
The Shema is recited every Shabbat in Israel and throughout the world: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.” The emphasis is on hearing—not just with our ears but our hearts. That same emphasis runs through the Gospels, where Yeshua (Jesus) repeatedly says, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” This isn’t just a phrase; it’s a life-changing command.
Many families across the U.S. are gathering today to celebrate “Thanksgiving.” But let’s take a moment to turn our hearts to the ultimate source of thanksgiving: God Himself. Psalm 100 is often called the “Psalm of Thanksgiving,” and it’s a perfect guide for how we should approach God—not just during Thanksgiving but every day.
For nearly twenty years, Romans 13:12 has been my signature verse on every email I send. For me, it’s a constant reminder that the long, dark night of this world is almost over, and the Day of the Lord is just about to dawn.
The testing of Abraham’s faith was repeated by YHVH throughout the patriarch’s entire life. The tests grew greater as his life advanced, and through every one, whether Abraham passed or not, YHVH proved Himself to be his friend over and over again. Every test or “trial” involved a serious challenge or threat in which Abraham had to trust that the LORD knew what He was doing, asking, or requiring, and that His goodness and faithfulness were unquestionably reliable.
While I was in the States, I read several stories about Ronald Reagan that made me appreciate him as a person and as a leader. But one amusing story really caught my attention and made me smile. When he was a young man, Reagan worked at a radio station and sometimes played records of sermons. His shift at the station was a one-man operation and so, on occasion, Ron would set the record playing and then sneak out for a cup of coffee. One day he got a call while he was at the coffee shop from the station’s owner, ordering him back to the station, and then … he received his termination notice. He’d returned to the station finding the record skipping at a particular point in the sermon…
Having spent over 20 years living in Israel’s Negev Desert, I’ve come to appreciate the importance of salt in maintaining proper hydration. “What in the world does salt have to do with grace and truth?”, you ask. Well, I’ll tell you.