Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide by what his ears hear;
but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth.”
NL Daily Devotion for Monday, November 18, 2024
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
Our senses can be deceived. Eyewitness evidence is the weakest form. The vast majority of what we “see” is actually the interpretation of our brains based on a minimum of input. Yet every day we make judgements based on what, to us, seems absolutely real and solid evidence.
God judges with the heart. God comes from a place of unconditional, unmerited love, and has that love for every one of us, no matter what value we or our peers might assign to one another based on what we see and hear.
In American society, we are perversely conditioned to blame the unfortunate for their misfortune, rather than recognizing corrupt and oppressive systems we ourselves have created that cause those misfortunes. We judge based on what we see and hear (in usually biased, misrepresenting stories and images in the media) and condemn accordingly.
God does no such thing. God sees each and every human being as worthy of love, worthy of health, worthy of stable housing, good nutrition, gainful employment, safe neighborhoods, good relationships, appropriate healthcare, and the enjoyment of recreation. Without exception. What can we learn from God’s example?
When do I find myself judging those in need for creating their own problem?
