Justice comes slowly
“Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me; deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men.” ESV Psalm 59:1-2
Varanasi. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and perhaps the oldest city in India. Like most Indian cities, it is densely populated and not particularly clean. And while the city is considered holy by both Buddhists and Hindus, the Hindus hold the city in reverent regard in accord with its ancient meaning; The City of Light. The name holds much irony in my mind.
Though Christians are a small, small minority in Varanasi, there are Christian churches in the city and Christians are allowed to worship in relative peace. Though, that’s not to say that discrimination doesn’t exist in various forms; it does.
When we arrived at our appointed meeting place, we were greeted by our gracious host pastor and striking adobe buildings, including a sanctuary, that were almost two hundred years old. The building walls were eighteen inches thick with layers plaster, adding to their character.
As the ceiling fan whirred overhead in the heat of the evening, we listened as the pastor explained that we wouldn’t be meeting in the sanctuary except on Sunday because of a disagreement, sadly and ironically, with another group of professing Christians. Yet, in my mind, their actions deny the very faith they proclaim.
Though locked out of the sanctuary, our host was most humble in the way he dealt with the inconvenience and prayed on more than one occasion in our presence for God’s blessing and glorification in the situation. Even as he observed that in India, “justice comes slowly,” his actions bore out the faith he professed. More so, his confidence rests, not in the justice of the state, but in God, who is ever faithful.
The Psalms, perhaps more so than any other book of the bible, are filled with prayers to God for deliverance from various trials and persecutions. Too often our response to trials is to take matters into our own hands and lash out at those whom would do us harm. We seek to bring justice swiftly. I wonder though, how often do we rob God of glory when we take matters into our own hands? Wouldn’t it be infinitely better to commit our trials to God and marvel in his deliverance?
Don’t rob God of his rightful glory. Pray for those who persecute you. Seek refuge in God.
Varanasi. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and perhaps the oldest city in India. Like most Indian cities, it is densely populated and not particularly clean. And while the city is considered holy by both Buddhists and Hindus, the Hindus hold the city in reverent regard in accord with its ancient meaning; The City of Light. The name holds much irony in my mind.
Though Christians are a small, small minority in Varanasi, there are Christian churches in the city and Christians are allowed to worship in relative peace. Though, that’s not to say that discrimination doesn’t exist in various forms; it does.
When we arrived at our appointed meeting place, we were greeted by our gracious host pastor and striking adobe buildings, including a sanctuary, that were almost two hundred years old. The building walls were eighteen inches thick with layers plaster, adding to their character.
As the ceiling fan whirred overhead in the heat of the evening, we listened as the pastor explained that we wouldn’t be meeting in the sanctuary except on Sunday because of a disagreement, sadly and ironically, with another group of professing Christians. Yet, in my mind, their actions deny the very faith they proclaim.
Though locked out of the sanctuary, our host was most humble in the way he dealt with the inconvenience and prayed on more than one occasion in our presence for God’s blessing and glorification in the situation. Even as he observed that in India, “justice comes slowly,” his actions bore out the faith he professed. More so, his confidence rests, not in the justice of the state, but in God, who is ever faithful.
The Psalms, perhaps more so than any other book of the bible, are filled with prayers to God for deliverance from various trials and persecutions. Too often our response to trials is to take matters into our own hands and lash out at those whom would do us harm. We seek to bring justice swiftly. I wonder though, how often do we rob God of glory when we take matters into our own hands? Wouldn’t it be infinitely better to commit our trials to God and marvel in his deliverance?
Don’t rob God of his rightful glory. Pray for those who persecute you. Seek refuge in God.
posted by TBC at
12/05/2010 03:37:00 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home