One Who Judges Justly

Eastertide
May 11, 2014

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:19-25 

When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. — 1 Peter 2:23 

I would not want to be an NBA referee. They are required to make instant judgments based on glancing looks at very athletic people moving in tandem at high rates of speed. They must make the decision in front of thousands of people who are seated at a distance with a different perspective and millions more watching on TV. The plays are being recorded at every possible angle. These recordings are instantly replayed for all the audience to view. Players also have their opinion about the calls made. Some argue their point–some with great emotion. Even after watching a play over and over again at regular speed and in slow motion, it is sometimes impossible to tell what really happened.

I thus take great hope in knowing that I and all of you are and will be judged justly by the One who knows our hearts and minds and actions totally.  Yet even with perfect knowledge, our judge is forgiving. There is tremendous freedom that results from having the burden of guilt and shame lifted from our beings. God is constantly remolding us and remaking us when we learn from our mistakes and continually strive to become more Christ like in our work as part of the Body of Christ.

We too are called to be forgiving in our interactions among all the peoples of God. All our judgments are limited as we now do see through a mirror dimly.  So let us let the One judge do his job and let’s just continue to complete our race with all our hearts, souls, minds and spirits.

Prayer: God of Grace, We thank you for your forgiveness and we ask that you enable us to be forgiving like you. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.