God's Justice - Psalm 5:4

Friday February 19

God’s Justice - Psalm 5:4 (NIV)

"You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell."

On an outing with a group from our church, I was told a heart-wrenching story of tragedy that happened to one of our Native friends here.  After graduating from high school, his sister was on her way to college, when she was intentionally run over and killed by a man who was jealous of her success.   This had been some years ago, but my friend was still suffering the effects of his family’s loss.

Many times when we hear a story like this, we wonder where God was in all of this.  We cry out for justice in a world that is full of tragedy and bitter grief.  During the Lenten season, we remember God demonstrates His mercy and His justice in one act: Christ’s death.  God does not take pleasure in the evil act perpetrated on my friend’s sister, He judges the sin of the world.  But thanks be to Him!  Instead of us receiving what we have deserved because of our sin, God’s judgment fell on Jesus, the sinless one (2 Cor. 5:21). 

It is our joy and privilege to announce the News of God’s mercy to the people we serve on the Navajo Nation.  Both victim and victimizer are in need of God’s mercy, and the Good News is that now those who are wicked (that is you and I and everyone else born into sin) can dwell with God.  Apart from Christ, we would be entirely cut off, but the Good News is also called “the Gospel of peace” (Eph. 6:15).  Peace with God… where formerly we couldn’t dwell with Him, now because of Christ’s work He dwells inside of us (1 Cor. 10:19).  This is what Christ’s work is all about, and this is worth sharing!

Lord,
Thank You for receiving me into Your family, and now dwelling inside of me.  Let my days be a thank-offering to You because of Your justice poured out on Christ, instead of on me. 
In His name, Amen.

Vicar Tim Norton - Navajo, New Mexico