This Day in History: 0000-09-03

September 3 – Zechariah 8:16-17

But this is what you must do:
Tell the truth to each other.
Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace.
Don’t scheme against each other.
Stop your love of telling lies that you swear are the truth.
I hate all these things, says the Lord.

From cover to cover, God’s Word is consistent in this: He hates lies. He is a God of justice and truth, and people have been bent on perverting both since the dawn of time!

But let’s be honest here. Living a truly honest life is really hard! It’s a lot easier to say we’re fine when we’re not, to say we don’t care when we do. It’s easier to claim ignorance when the truth will condemn us, easier to remain silent when speaking up will make us vulnerable.

It’s no different with justice. We may claim to care about treating people well, or looking out for the little guy, but when the rubber meets to road, it’s a lot easier to pretend we don’t see than to stand up to a bully! It’s far preferable to plot and scheme against our fellow man for perceived injustices against ourselves than to keep our eyes open for the mistreatment of others. It’s more appealing to sign a petition or “like” a cause than to put ourselves between the vulnerable and their abusers in our day-to-day lives.

Friends, the Lord God Almighty looks at these behaviors and says, “I hate all these things!” He longs for His people to be men and women of integrity who speak and live the truth. Always. No matter what.

His desire is that we be a force for justice. Not necessarily by joining some massive, well known movement, but by walking through our daily lives with awareness. Evaluating the world around us and rendering verdicts that are just and lead to peace. Never scheming against each other.

May we honor Him in our choices! May we be a powerful force for justice in this dark world, and may we find the courage to live honest lives. Wholly real and true before God, ourselves, and the world!