Bible thought: This is what the Lord of armies has said: “Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother.” Zechariah 7:9
Every year I make it a goal to read through the Bible. Each time, I am amazed at the “new” things that seem to jump off the page in front of me! This year I have been impressed by the Old Testament usage of words like oppressed, fatherless, widows, poor, needy, sojourner and stranger.
According to today’s reading, in the time of Zechariah, justice was needed. True justice. Such justice was to be shown in the personal treatment of individuals based on kindness and compassion. God’s instructions resulted in Israel’s stubborn deafness, hard heartedness, and rejection of his words. God’s anger resulted in the discipline of his people.
It becomes easy for us also to have blind eyes, hard hearts, and deaf ears toward the homeless and needy sojourners among us. How can we not see them? Won’t the kindness and compassion of Jesus become our guide to true justice?
Universal justice begins with personal acts of kindness and compassion. – Monroe
Dear Lord, open our eyes, ears, and hearts to the needs around us, and may we begin to make a difference. We pray in the name of the one who gave his all on behalf of our needs. Amen.
Bruce Henderson is minister of Airport Road Church of Christ in Carson City.
