Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“Then I will draw near to you for judgment; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages, the widow and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the alien, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.”
NL Daily Devotion for Saturday, December 21, 2024
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
This is mind blowing to me. God says that Israel will fight its enemies, yet have compassion on anyone who dies in the conflict, and truly grieve their loss. The message to me? We cannot take any such conflict lightly. Violence is never—never!—the first and best option. We are called to see our enemies as precious and beloved, no matter how they have harmed us. This does not mean that we accept harm; there are times action must be taken in self-defense. But when others are hurt, we should see this as deeply grieving. Can you imagine? Recognizing the humanity of those we are in conflict with? Loving them and seeing them as precious? Would there ever be war?
Are there ways in which I characterize those I disagree with as less than fully loved and precious human beings?
