What's YOUR Name?

"My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil."   Proverbs 4:20-27 (NLT)

In all of the turbulence of current events it could be easy to fall prey to anger and resentment. But I have to ask myself carefully at the revelation of each new event: If I allow myself to be angry or resentful, who or what is the target and what is my motivation? Our feet can't be allowed to walk the path of injustice - even in our thinking. So I have to stop and determine what or who is urging me to feel that way... and then check it against the only standard of justice that matters - The Master's.

There's a strong message found in the life of Judah's King Jehoiakim. It's one of many places that reveals the Lord's heart about injustice as recounted in Jeremiah 22:15-19 (NLT)

"But a beautiful cedar palace does not make a great king! Your father, Josiah, also had plenty to eat and drink. But he was just and right in all his dealings. That is why God blessed him. He gave justice and help to the poor and needy, and everything went well for him. Isn’t that what it means to know me?” says the LORD . “But you! You have eyes only for greed and dishonesty! You murder the innocent, oppress the poor, and reign ruthlessly.” Therefore, this is what the LORD says about Jehoiakim, son of King Josiah: “The people will not mourn for him, crying to one another, ‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!’ His subjects will not mourn for him, crying, ‘Alas, our master is dead! Alas, his splendor is gone!’ He will be buried like a dead donkey— dragged out of Jerusalem and dumped outside the gates!" 

There's a defining life point that bears repeating ...

"...he was just and right in all his dealings. That is why God blessed him. He gave justice and help to the poor and needy, and everything went well for him. Isn't that what it means to know me?” says the LORD"  

True injustice will be measured against one standard in the end even if it manages to escape punishment in this life. It can't be justified by more injustice - even if served for one's own closely held reason(s). The injustice perpetrated anywhere, by anyone, for any reason, will one day come before one judge in the end to be reconciled and fall prey to His ultimate justice. The unforgiven should find this terrifying and those unbroken by the mercy shown them by The Judge Himself, ... a call for reflection.

The Lord speaking through Malachi about judgment day...

“At that time I will put you on trial. I am eager to witness against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars. I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice, for these people do not fear me,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies." Malachi 3:5 (NLT)

Our hearts bear guarding against the opportunity to violate the currency of Father God's economy at every moment.

But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum? ” When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” Matthew 9:11-13 (NLT)

Jesus was quoting from Hosea 6:6, which in the New Living Translation reads this way:

"I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings."

For myself, I've long had a tender heart toward the broken hearted and disadvantaged.  I admit though that I've been guilty of injustice in the past and it wrecks my heart now to this day when I think about it. I've made it a personal life project to lend myself wholly to the process of the Lord's sanctification and to avoid further personal regret and anguish... and it's life and heart changing. In a past period of repentance and complete brokenness before the Lord it was prophesied over me that the Lord now calls my name Mercy. That name stands as a weighted standard of direct accountability between myself and the Lord that I cannot now overlook. It follows me wherever I go and it wounds me for the wounds that others bear. It makes me pause to be cautious in my own judgments of others and though I'm not yet perfected in it, I find that it draws me closer to the heart of Christ. It may sound like a burden, but every burden the Lord gives us to carry, He carries with us and I know in my own heart and life by experience that each one carries with it an abundant life changing reward - so I carry it gladly. It's why I write to you.

If we share the path, then I believe that you have a name and a burden to carry also because I believe that the Lord has a name for each one of His children. My mother called me Peace Maker, My Lord calls me Mercy...

                           What's YOUR name?


"No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 (NLT)