DAY 29: THE 29-MINUTE CHALLENGE
It's the final day of the "29-Minute" Challenge! All month our youth group has been reading together through the "One Minute Bible" with the goal of reading at least one minute per day each day of the month. Here's the verse that really got my attention this morning when I read it:
"For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; it is he who will save us." ~Isaiah 33:22
A few things come to mind as I reflect on that verse...
The word "judge" causes most people to bristle when they hear it. Either they picture being looked down upon & condemned by others OR they picture having to sit in a courtroom waiting for a verdict they probably won't agree with. But every community loves a good judge who seeks justice for everyone involved. There was a judge in my hometown of Shelbyville when I was growing up named Judge Sanders. He was loved by many in our community because he punished wrongdoing but always gave the wrongdoer a chance to atone for what they did wrong. He was firm and fair, the perfect balance for teenagers looking to genuinely repent of the wrongs they did. Judge Sanders' goal was caring for the victims and the wrongdoers, a true testament to his character.
We tend to dislike the idea that God punishes sin. But if he just sat on the sideline and said, "The heck with it! Do what you want," then how could he be considered a good judge? God punishes sin because it hurts us. It strains our relationship with him and our relationships with each other. God punishes sin because it protects us. That seems kind of weird, but think about it: When you do something wrong & face consequences for it, doesn't that make you less likely to do it again? And doesn't that benefit not only you, but other people, too?
And even when we DO mess up & do something wrong, Jesus doesn't wait there to bring down the hammer on us. He's not the tempter. Satan is. Jesus wants to see us win the temptation, to cheer us on toward doing what's right & helping us get right back up when we fail. He wants to see us grow & learn from our mistakes, just like Judge Sanders did all those years in juvenile court.
God is Judge. Jesus is Judge. The Holy Spirit is Judge. And a good Judge at that. So good to know He's in control regardless of what verdict any court this side of heaven hands down.
What did Jesus say to YOU today?
