A Collection of Voices: Thy Kingdom Come
/Last week, as I read and meditated on 2 Peter Chapter 3, in which it discusses the Day of the Lord, I couldn’t help myself from feeling a deep aching for Christ, a deeper intimacy with Him – “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen” (verse 18).
This aching for Christ comes from my brokenness, and also from seeing all the suffering in the world, because, in Him, I find rest, peace, and truth.
Yet in this moment of searching for peace in Christ, I am convicted that I am to encouraged to be that vessel, to reach those (oppressed or oppressor) around me with love and grace.
These last several weeks have proven that this world is fallen and in need of compassion.
Generations of racial tension continue to unfold in this “progressive” time – only to dismantle feelings and prejudices against one another based on skin color. This is not simply a black/white issue. It is very prevalent in our own culture, where individuals look at others and make judgments based on outer appearances.
As Christians, our second greatest command is to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12: 31, NIV). To truly love your neighbor as you do yourself instructs seeing that person as you would yourself – holding up a mirror to their face. And in that process, when you see yourself, ask the question – do I see Christ in me? This question comes from two thoughts:
1) We are all created in the likeness and image of God, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them…” (Genesis 1:27, NIV)
2) Christ lives in each of us “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galations 2:20, NIV).
When we remember that every individual around us is a child of God, and that we have Christ living in us – we are reminded that we are now vessels of His love and grace.
With that spirit of Jesus in each of us, there arises a conviction regarding the injustices in this world.
Jesus, too, felt.
The passage of Lazarus has the verse - “Jesus wept” (John 11:35, NIV). One might ask, why did Jesus weep? Jesus had a deep compassion for suffering. Even though he looked forward to the joy that would ultimately come, he sympathized with suffering and oppression.
Although there are numerous scriptures that condemn injustice and oppression, one that speaks to me is Isaiah 58:6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” (NIV).
We, as members of Christ’s body, have been set apart, to make a difference, by being his messengers, to embody and spread His love. This may require us to come out of our comfort zones. This will call us to be comfortably uncomfortable. I pray that we can break down any barriers between us – be it differences in color, language, race, and/or gender.
This call to action may look different for each of us.
Here are some tips I will share by Pastor Michael Todd, Transformation Church – take the RISK.
[R]elationship: Create relationships outside your comfort zone – with people who do not look like us, or do not have our background. It’s in relationships that we find out how much we are the same. It shouldn’t be about what we can get out of it, but what we can give to it.
[I]ntentional: Racial reconciliation is not going to happen by accident. Be Intentional. Have a conversation with your families. Find things that can help you understand what people are going through at every side of the globe. Be intentional and care, deeply care for people that do not look like you.
[S]tart at home, then [s]peak up: If you see injustice happening - SPEAK UP. There are people who can’t speak for themselves. Let us be a voice for our community.
[K]nowledge: Be educated. Our lives are all different because of different upbringings/generations of experiences. With that knowledge, hopefully we get the wisdom to go forward and make the changes to help our society and nation, at large.
And as I pray and yearn to one day see Heaven, where “there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb” (Rev 7:9, NIV), I invite you all to bring Heaven to Earth with me. When we pray the Lord’s prayer, we beseech “Thy Kingdom Come.” He is calling us all to live a life that displays Heaven on Earth by the renewing of our minds and transformation of our hearts.
As the injustices of the world continue, be confident in the hope of Jesus, and in the world to come. I am convinced that this is all part of His plan, so that more people will come to know Jesus – “To him be glory both now and forever!” (2 Peter 3:18, NIV).