Following the Just or Unjust

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2012 8:34 am Post subject: Following the Just or Unjust

Following the Just or Unjust

Scripture:

And Amasias said to Amos: You seer, go, flee away into the land of Juda: and eat bread there, and prophesy there. But prophesy not again any more in Bethel: because it is the sanctuary of the king, and it is the house of the kingdom. And Amos answered and said to Amasias: I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet: but I am a herdsman plucking wild figs. And the Lord took me when I followed the flock, and the Lord said to me: Go, prophesy to my people Israel. (Amos 7:12-15)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with spiritual blessings in heavenly places, in Christ: As he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and unspotted in his sight in charity. Who has predestined us unto the adoption of children through Jesus Christ unto himself: according to the purpose of his will: Unto the praise of the glory of his grace, in which he has graced us, in his beloved son. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the remission of sins, according to the riches of his, grace, which has superabounded in us, in all wisdom and prudence, that he might make known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he had purposed in him, in the dispensation of the fulness of times, to re-establish all things in Christ, that are in heaven and on earth, in him.

In whom we also are called by lot, being predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will. That we may be unto the praise of his glory: we who before hoped in Christ: In whom you also, after you had heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation), in whom also believing, you were signed with the holy Spirit of promise. Who is the pledge of our inheritance, unto the redemption of acquisition, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephisians 1:3-14)

And he called the twelve; and began to send them two and two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. And he commanded them that they should take nothing for the way, but a staff only; no scrip, no bread, nor money in their purse, but to be shod with sandals, and that they should not put on two coats. And he said to them: Wheresoever you shall enter into an house, there abide till you depart from that place. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you; going forth from thence, shake off the dust from your feet for a testimony to them. And going forth they preached men should do penance: And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them. (Mark 6:7-13)

Reflection:

The prophets of the Lord are called by God to communicate His Word so that the people will listen, heed and turn from the evils of the world. The people should embrace the prophets for they reveal the desire of God for the children of His creation and what separates the people from Him. The way of the prophet, though, is in conflict with those who have turned to selfishness and those who seek power to impose the deceptions of the evil one. There are those who seek paths to satisfy their own desires and do not wish to hear the Word of love. They believe they can ignore the Word or change it to serve their own purposes.

The prophet who is true will remain faithful to the Word. The prophet will not change the message of God, for when they speak what is acceptable to people of corruption, they, then become false in their prophecy. The will of the Lord will be served through the faithful prophet, no matter the persecution they may face.

And what of the people who face the decision as to whether to believe the words of the prophet or leaders of the land? How are the people to know and understand what is truth? What are they to do when leaders of government tell them they must follow laws which are contrary to the laws of God? How are the people to know what is right when their leaders persecute and seek to silence the messengers of truth?

If the people follow the unjust, they do not follow God. If the people follow the unjust, they become unjust themselves. For the people to return to justice, they must repent and heed the warnings of the prophet. But what are the people to do if the prophet before them is false? What hope do the people have if their leaders are corrupt and their prophets misleading? How are the people to know the truth and the way of the Lord?

The evil one will seek to deceive us with Words, even words of scripture taken out of the context of truth, camouflaged with twisted logic and wrapped in the seductions of good intentions. The evil one will seek to corrupt leaders of the people, for if the leaders are corrupted, so shall the people become. The evil one will not come to the people with ugliness on his face or the vulgarities of demons, no, rather, the evil one will seduce the people with smiles and promises for which the people will not understand the consequences.

The people must remain vigilant to such deceit and those who would seek to impose upon them the way of the world over the ways of God. No one is immune to deception, but the closer one seeks to be to God the weaker becomes the temptations of the serpent. When God is in the heart of the people, then, the heart will feel when words are not right, when actions are wrong, when what is asked of the people is designed to appeal to selfishness and not love.

It is through deception and selfish desires that many do not see through the corrupt leader or the false prophet. When God is not close to the hearts of the people, they follow the world blindly, they believe it is right to persecute the prophet for they do not understand and nor can they see the deception of those who seek to silence the words of warning to the children of His creation.

God has given each person free will. The choice which each must make is whether to follow God or to follow a different path. It is not for the people to impose this choice upon anyone no more than God has imposed it, but the people do have a right to protect themselves when the choice people make leads to consequences which harm the innocent. The people have the right to make laws to protect themselves from the consequences of evil; but those who make laws which protect and encourage evil make laws which are unjust.

It is not the role of government to impose how people shall worship or how they choose to exercise their relationship with God; but neither is it the role of government to silence those who seek to worship and share their beliefs so that others might heed the warnings which expose the ways of evil. If the faithful are silenced, then, only the purpose of the evil one is served. Laws which silence the faithful are unjust and those who make such laws will be held to account by their Creator.

The faithful wonder why the Word of the Lord is rejected by so many. The faithful wonder how it is that any could have the arrogance to declare their interests above those of God. The faithful wonder how the commandments of the Lord can be misunderstood. The words of deception which lead the people away from the truth of God are born from the twisted logic which justifies the selfishness which flourishes in the hearts of a stiff necked society.

From the moment we are conceived, we are predestined to live our lives to fulfill the will of God, but unless we seek to understand His will, we will be diverted to the will of the world. Each moment provides to us the choice of the path to follow. Some fall to deceptions, some fall to temptations and some fall because they are weak in their understanding of what God asks of them. If we lack understanding of the will of God, we should spend time with His Word. If we question our understanding of the truth of His Word, then, we should pray for wisdom so that we may not be easily deceived by those who seek to confuse us. If we ask in prayer, He shall reveal the truth to our hearts.

To guide the children of His creation, He sent His disciples to carry the Word. Where the people received them, the blessings of the Word were shared; but where they were not received, the disciples left the people to their own devices and to their own destruction. The disciples were instructed to shake the dust from their feet in testimony of what was found in the hearts of that place.

Though His messengers may depart, He does not cease His call. Those who are surrounded by evil and must have it purged from their hearts may still turn to Him to receive His love and blessings. Those who remain confused may ask in prayer for His guidance. If we ask, He will fill our heart with the feeling of warning if what we hear is deception. He will guide us away from the deceptions of the false leader and the false prophet. He will reveal to us that the consequences of evil cannot yield the blessings of love no matter how it is camouflaged in the trappings of good intentions. The law which harms the defenseless and the innocent may stand in the hearts of corrupt people, but it cannot stand in the hearts of those guided by the Holy Spirit.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier