When we were raising our children, one of the comments that we would often heard was, “Not Fair!” It seemed whatever we did as parents didn’t seem fair. Our children were different ages, had different temperaments, and in were in different circumstances, yet they all wanted us to treat them fairly. If they didn’t get what they wanted when they wanted it, they thought it was “Nor Fair”!
So many situations in life shout, “Not fair!” I observe Christian couples who struggle to have children while others are blessed with children and ignore or abuse them. I look at families whose children are all alive and well, and others who have a disabled child. I see friends who long to serve God but can’t because of health issues. “Not fair.”
I then must remember that we are not the judges of fairness. God is sovereign and does things the way He chooses according to His plans and purposes, not ours. The question isn’t about fairness. In the end, it’s about trust in a faithful God who knows what He is doing.
He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice” (Deuteronomy 32:4).
Life is not always fair, but God is always faithful.
Tags: fair, justice, trust
Micah 6:8 says, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God”.
These are three interesting requirements. 1) We are to do justly. Justice is what is deserved. Justice honors the Law. If I deserve it, I can demand it. It is owed to me. I am to live my life sowing seeds because I can expect to reap what I sow.
2) We are also required to love mercy. Mercy is the opposite of justice. Mercy is when I get what I don’t deserve. Mercy is when I find grace because I deserved justice. I am to do justly, while I am to love mercy. How do we reconcile these two opposite concepts?
3) We are to walk humbly with our God. To walk humbly is to recognize that we are nothing in ourselves. It is to remain open as vessels that God can use in any manner He chooses. I am to act justly, while demonstrating mercy to others, so I can be a humble servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. These things the Lord requires of us.
Tags: humility, justice, mercy, Micah 6:8, requirements