What is fair?
What is fair?
According to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary online Fair is:
: agreeing with what is thought to be right or acceptable
: treating people in a way that does not favor some over others
: not too harsh or critical
So what does that really mean?
Fair is when I get my way? When everything goes in my favor?
Or maybe fair is when it is equal? If we all got an equal share would that be fair?
If that is the case then this is a picture of what fair is.
Is this picture fair?
All of the boys have the same size box and everything is equal, but the boy on the right side is still staring at the fence. He can’t see the game and enjoy the action like the other two boys can. But it is equal so it must be fair!
Fair is not equal. Fair does not mean we all get the same thing. It does not imply that everything will be best for me, or give me a hand up. The definition above is agreeing what is right and acceptable, where one does not have favor over others.
So how can we change this picture to make it fair?
This is fair, where all three boys can enjoy the game. It is not equal because the boy on the left does not have a box, but without the box, he is able to enjoy the game. So by giving the boy on the right his box, all three of them can now see the action and enjoy the game. It is not equal but it is fair.
As those who follow Christ, we have been given many gifts, ourselves, our time, our possessions and our talents. Everything we have is a gift from God, and He wants us to use those gifts to raise the lowly, to empower the downtrodden, to give hope to the hopeless, to not make the world equal, but to show His love.
So let us seek to live out the words of Micah 6:8 “what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
buy
Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:1-9, NRSV)
Have you ever gotten a free meal? Not one bought for you by a friend, but one that was free for everyone?
Doesn’t happen. We all have to pay for something some way some how. But here we hear of a time when everything will be provided by God.
All will be able to come and eat and have their fill. They will be satisfied.
You won’t have to buy anything, for God will provide for your every need.
So incline your ear and listen and go where He leads you!
Meditate
delight
O God, you are my God, I seek you,
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands and call on your name.
My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast,
and my mouth praises you with joyful lips
when I think of you on my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
(Psalm 63:1-8, NRSV)
In a dry and weary land where there is no water I look to you as my refreshment!
The love of God is better than cool water on a hot day, or a warm blanket in the dead of winter!
My soul and life are satisfied by God. Allow your soul to cling to Him and to rest in His shade.
Allow His love and refreshment to permeate your being.
Perish
repent
At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.” Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” (Luke 13:1-9, NRSV)
Did you see even the fig tree got another chance?
The gardener said let me cover it with manure and take care of it for a year and then if there isn’t fruit we will cut it down.
Unless you repent and follow after what God is calling you to do, you will perish.
Repentance is turning around and not following our own ways, but going where God is leading us.
So allow Him to care for you and follow after His ways!
Sworn
Remember
O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples.
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wonderful works.
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
Seek the LORD and his strength;
seek his presence continually.
Remember the wonderful works he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
O offspring of his servant Abraham,
children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
He is the LORD our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.
He is mindful of his covenant forever,
of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,
the covenant that he made with Abraham,
his sworn promise to Isaac,
which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant,
saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
as your portion for an inheritance.”
When they were few in number,
of little account, and strangers in it,
(Psalm 105:1-12, NRSV)
Can you recall all of the wonderful things God has done for you?
God will never forget the promises He has made to us. He holds us in the palm of His hand, and protects us and will never leave us nor forsake us.
So give thanks for all of the wonderful things He has already done in your life, and prepare yourself for the amazing things that are yet to come.
New
aSacredRebel 