“This is what the LORD Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.”
Zechariah 7:9 (NIV)
When we think in courtroom terms we tend to think that mercy and justice are opposite to one another. This verse teaches us that mercy and compassion are an integral part of true justice. Zechariah was a prophet to the people whose story is told in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. These Jews who had returned from Babylon, and rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls and temple came to Zechariah with a worship question - should we mourn and fast in the fifth month? God’s answer given to Zechariah reiterates once again that true worship is a matter of life. Our natural tendency is to separate our worship time from how we live - but that is a false separation and will lead us into ruin. The LORD reminds the people that the prophets told their parents not to pretend to worship God while suppressing God’s people and because they wouldn’t stop that foolish practise God ruined their land and cast them out into Babylon. The Law tells us to love your neighbour as yourself, however our Lord Jesus tells us to love each other as Christ has loved us. This is true worship! It honours our Lord and His love for us, and it is a reflection of His heart.
How can we hurt those whom God loves and still expect that we are right with God?
How can we say and do hurtful things to our family while in the car on the way to church, and yet come inside and think that we have pleased God and are right with Him because we participate in a worship service for 70 minutes?
The apostle Paul in his charge to the elders at Ephesus tells them to shepherd (govern) the people in their church who were bought with Christ’s own blood.
I have found it helpful in my dealings with other Christians to tell myself “Watch yourself John, that person who is about to receive your vent – was bought with the blood of Christ - careful what you say and what you do.”
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