What are we to do???

Media and social media alike are overflowing with images, rants, prayers, commentaries related to yesterday's Boston bombing. Here are three things I read this morning:

I'm on Day 18 of a 30 day Early To Rise challenge and receive an automated email every day.This just so happened to be in paragraph 2: 
"If it is true that one person can change the world with their evil acts, then we also know that one person can change the world through their kindness. One ignorant person can cause tremendous damage, and one wise person can alter the course of history." - Andy Traub

Then in today's Jesus Calling  by Sarah Young: 
I am calling you to a life of thankfulness. I want all your moments to be punctuated with thanksgiving. The basis for your gratitude is My sovereignty. I am the Creator and Controller of the universe. Heaven and earth are filled with My glorious Presence. 
When you criticize or complain, you are acting as if you think you could run the world better than I do. From your limited perspective, it may look as if I'm mismanaging things. But you don't know what I know or see what I see. If I pulled back the curtain to allow you to view heavenly realms, you would understand much more. However, I have designed you to live by faith, not by sight. I lovingly shield you from knowing the future or seeing into the spirit world. Acknowledge My sovereignty by giving thanks in all circumstances. 
  • We live by faith, not by sight. 2 Cor. 5:7
  • Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess. 5:18


And on facebook, I read Nate Dorka's post to his HS youth group:

Some thoughts on the bombings in Boston today:
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” - Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 
Devastation. 
Doctors are working on some folks to patch them up, working on others who lost a limb and are struggling to stay alive... Others, including an eight year old boy, weren't as "lucky".
We call for justice. Built into us is a NEED for justice. 
And people are going to be looking everywhere for someone/something to blame. There will probably be blame placed on the head of security or maybe even government officials.
We want to blame an enemy. 
What should our view be as Christians? What should our response be? Aren't we called to LOVE our enemy... even the enemy that killed that little boy? But can there be justice in that?
There is an enemy. He is a thief who "comes only to steal and kill and destroy.(Jn 10:10)" The bible calls him our advisory and tells us, "the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.(1 Pt 5:8)" 
This thief, lion, devil is our enemy, and he'll do all he can to keep people in the darkness.
"But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.(Jn 11:10)"
Jesus tell us “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
These folks that do unspeakable things are simply in the darkness. They don't know the life that Jesus, in his mercy, gives.
Jesus tells us, "...I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.(John 10:10)"
"they" includes the killer of that little boy. 
So... What should our response be towards the bombers from today?
Pray for them. 
"(Jesus talking to Saul/Paul in Acts)...so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me."
Pray that God would be glorified by the transformation of their hearts, and that these people would become followers of Christ. 
As far as justice goes, well.. We were all once in the darkness, and deserved death. It's by God's perfect mercy and grace, and by Jesus work on the cross and power over death, that we now live.

To Nate's words, I would just add this. There are some that cannot rest until justice is "properly" served, even though they may forgive and pray for the offender. To them, I'd say that God says we reap what we sow (Gal 6:7). It is up to Him to provide the consequences to the offender. I can rest knowing that justice is in His hands, the same hands that provide grace serve justice meted as HE sees fit. 

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6 comments:

DonnaB said...

There is so much comfort offered in your post for today. Thanks, Susan, for pointing us in a Godly direction.

Penny said...

You are so right, Susan. Thanks for the post.

quietspirit said...

Thank you for the reminder to pray for those who started this disaster.
I hadn't thought of that.

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Susan -

Love the new look of your blog!

Great thoughts here. I've seen a couple of these on the Net.

Blessings,
Susan :)

North Jersey Christian Writers Group said...

Thanks Susan! I feel like a proud new mama ;D

Our Stories God's Glory said...

Oh yeah...Love the new look. It's just beautiful. Traci Little is awesome! Love this post too. I appreciate you gathering powerful words so I can read them here in one place. All so good!