The gavel tapped repeatedly on the wooden top of the judge’s bench. The spokesperson for the jury slowly rose. “What say you?”, the judge queried as he peered over his reading glasses…
This is the part that every TV court drama aficionado waits for, isn’t it? Did the person get off or not? Was the stealth lawyer savvy enough to find the real “whodunit?” Will justice be served, the way we want it?
Ah, that is the key- the way we want it.
Anytime now, from today though the next two weeks, the Texas Supreme Court will hand down their “opinion” as to whether around 50 congregations here in North Texas get to keep their church buildings, many over fifty years old, or be forced to leave. It has been a long, arduous and expensive legal battle.
Someone will win, someone will lose. But will God be praised by both sides no matter the outcome? Both sides will lose if they continue to harbor ill feelings for each other and do not trust that God’s will is greater than any decision man can make.
It is so easy to get caught up in the drama. But like a tornadic vortex, those being sucked up into it rarely come out unscathed. No one really wins when they are battered by the experience.
In the first chapter of the book of James, he tells his listeners to be slow to anger because human anger does not bring about the righteousness of God. When we let emotions get in the way, we will always be hurt. Whips of sharp tongues can have a boom-a-rang effect. Hurt and anger can skew the Truth just like looking through the wrong prescription glasses. Not getting the justice we feel we deserve can sour our faith if we do not yield our emotions to God’s plan and fall to our knees, begging for clarity and strength.
Drama on TV is one thing- in life it is something else.
As far as the court decision, I pray the judges will heed these words:
He [Jehosophat who appointed judges in ancient Israel after he had turned the people back to God’s ways] told them, “Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for mere mortals but for the LORD, who is with you whenever you give a verdict.” II Chronicles 19:4
But no matter what, God is still on His Throne, and He is the ultimate judge. Thy will be done, even though it may not be mine.
Always uplifting…..always inspiring. Thank you, Julie!
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Thank you for letting me know it touched your heart, Mary Beth. May you find Hi. In your day each and every day. Take care and great to hear from you!
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