Living and Active

Mulling over Psalm 94 and 95 this morning.  These passages are interesting and thought provoking in light of current events. I got to them by searching "vengance" and "revenge" in Bible Gateway.  Evil is God's to avenge, and I'm wrestling with all of this today. 

I realize that many Americans and many in the world feel relief knowing that this notoriously evil person has perished.  Honestly,  I'm not overwhelmed with relief as much as I am with growing concern, and an urgent desire to pray for God's will to be accomplished.  I just can't imagine that this person's demise will lead to a more peaceful world?   My heart is also overwhelmed with grief for those folks who lost loved ones in 9/11 and in this long awful war.

Dan and I were in Jamaica just 9 months after 9/11, leading a group of teenagers on a mission trip there.  I will never, ever forget some of the images there.  It was my first time to travel "abroad", and what an eye-opener.  Sentiments like like "Go *sama!" and "D*wn with the U.S." and other such anti-American rant were scrawled across car windshields, storefronts, even outside of the tiny shanty dwellings where many Jamaicans abide.  This blew my mind.  Why?  For the first time, I was able to witness and consider the impact we Americans have on other countries.  We spent almost the entire trip cleaning mounds and mounds of cruise ship waste from the otherwise beautiful Jamaican beaches.  On the second day of cleaning up bottlecaps, plastic flatware and other junk that literally overtook these local beaches,  it hit me.  Is this what the global community thinks of us Americans?  As consumers who "use" others for our ends?  I hope not.  One thing I do know.  I want to hold all of these events in tension with God's Word.  How can I truly "love my neighbor"?

We can take comfort in is God's Word.  It is truly living and active.  (Hebrews 4:12)  I'm reminded of this as I run to scripture for peace and truth.  Here are a couple of verses that stood out from Psalm 94.

20 Can unjust leaders claim that God is on their side—
leaders whose decrees permit injustice?
21 They gang up against the righteous
and condemn the innocent to death.
22 But the Lord is my fortress;
my God is the mighty rock where I hide.

My heart is grateful for the protection God's provided in our military and special forces as they physically put their lives on the line to protect our freedom, day in and day out.

These passages from scripture are a stark reminder to my heart that ultimately, God alone is our fortress, he is our hiding place in times such as these.  Whether the battle is for freedom from terror, or the battle is one waged in our hearts to overcome struggles, the LORD GOD is our mighty fortress, our place of help and hope for life beyond this earth.  What areas of my heart need to be surrendered in order to fully enjoy his protection and peace here and now?