I write today praying for guidance and wisdom, and ask you
as a reader to have patience and maybe even a little grace and understanding if
you struggle with or may even be slightly offended by today’s devotion. I grew up as a child who was heavily involved
in civil rights. I remember being taken
to conferences for the NAACP at the bright young age of eight, and hearing
stories from a mother who was chair for the civil rights commission in the
state of Michigan. I also grew up in a
school system where every year, the Detroit Police Department would have a band
that came to the school, and for one hour or so play, tell jokes, and bring
smiles to our faces. To me, they were my
friends. They would protect my crew and
me later on after being robbed at gun point.
These are the images in my mind that I had coming into last week.
While those are the images I cling to, I walk into a reality
today that is very different. I am
saddened and frustrated by tragic deaths that both raise questions of my family’s
safety and look deeply in my own heart for grace and understanding for those
who disagree with me. Am I safe even if
I do the right things all because I might fit the description of someone who
did wrong? Do I lash out because someone
unwilling to take a deeper look into a cause looks at me and says or writes
‘All Lives Matter’ failing to understand that ‘Black Lives Matter’ does not
mean all other lives do not? Do I fail
to show enough love and appreciation for the job of those who protect and serve
in my community? These are the questions
that have swirled in my mind for almost a week now as conversations have
continued both with and around me. At a
time like this many of you have asked for love, prayer, and God’s
guidance. However, today’s devotion will
simply ask something that has been lost like fad that has come and gone. What would Jesus do?
Jesus would challenge us to be bigger, bolder, and vigilant
in the face of such uncertainty. Rather
than have us focus on our fears as to what may happen, He would harken on the
words of David saying:
Yea, though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art
with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table
before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my
cup runneth over. Psalm 23:3-57 (KJV)
He would look at our own lack of
understanding of others and ask us to be accountable for our own sins saying, “And why worry about
a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of
saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your
eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid
of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the
speck in your friend’s eye.” (Matthew 7:3-5) Jesus would remind us of the Golden Rule (Do to others
whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is
taught in the law and the prophets. Matthew
7:12) and greatest love (This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I
have loved you. There
is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:12-13).
You see as followers of God, Jesus
does not allow for us to retreat to the safety of our own lives. Our discomfort is a sign that God is
challenging us to grow. Jesus never ran away
from what God asked of Him so He could be comfortable. Instead, He followed knowing who God was; our
Heavenly Father, and did it because that is who He is. I’m encouraged by the song ‘Good Good Father’
that reminds us:
You're a Good, Good Father
It's who you are, it's who you are, it's who you are
And I'm loved by you
It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am
It's who you are, it's who you are, it's who you are
And I'm loved by you
It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am
We are valued and loved by the
Great I Am. I will not be silent to
injustices, and will continue to pour out love to others even if they do not
agree my stance. I mourn with sadness
over all wrongful deaths, and yes, I still love my police (especially that band
that plays in the schools). Do not be
discouraged. Our love of Christ will
help others see the light as well. What
is Jesus asking of you now? Are you
willing to embrace the discomfort God has placed in your heart, mind, and
spirit? My prayer is that the tragedies
of this past week will remind us our mission as followers of Christ. Be bigger, bolder, and vigilant. Amen.de
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