3 minute read
Adebanjo
WHAT DRIVES OUR HEART?
By Dr. Ade Adebanjo
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“S peak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” – James 2:12-13 NIV There is an innate desire in every one of us to see the right thing done and justice served. A desire to see people get what they deserve based on their actions, both for good but also for bad. This desire resides in our soul and is indeed part of the nature we were created with. For some people, this desire is more of a passion that manifests in their advocacy and championing of the cause of justice.
This desire is rooted in the Law, both natural and biblical. It tends to draw us in the direction of the legal demands of the law and what it deems as right and wrong. Jesus described this in the scriptures: “Your ancestors have also been taught, ‘Take an eye in exchange for an eye and a tooth in exchange for a tooth.’ However, I say to you, don’t repay an evil act with another evil act. But whoever insults you by slapping you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well. – Matthew 5:38-39 (TPT) Christ requires a higher standard of righteousness from those that believe in Him. We must learn to balance this natural desire for justice with the new law that operates in us which is the Royal Law – "thou shall love thy neighbor as the self" (James 2:8). This is also called the “Law of liberty” i.e. the law that sets people free, not holds them down to the legal claims of their wrongdoing. This law manifests itself in mercy and grace. This is what Jesus came to introduce to the earth and what He died on the cross of Calvary to make not just a possibility but a reality in our lives. Mercy refused to let us get what we deserved for our sins i.e. death. There on the cross JUSTICE MET GRACE when Jesus the Lamb of God was crucified. This was the culmination of the love of God towards humanity. This same love is now shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5) and is supposed to take ascendancy in our lives as we yield to it. There is still lurking in our soul the desire to see the claims of justice satisfied - our hatred for wrong and desire to see people get what they deserve, especially when they have done wrong to us or to others. We continue to see this played out in our world with the recent and ongoing reactions to the injustices that have been perpetrated against particular demographic of people.
Sometimes what people do, “DRIVES OUR BRAIN” (to borrow the words of my wife). If we live out of our soul (brain, feelings, emotions) we will always be upset by what people do and cry out, even fight, to prove them wrong and see them get what they deserve. This can however lead to us becoming judgmental, vindictive/ vengeful. We must realize that while we remain intolerant of wrongdoing that drives our brain, we must yield to and live by what “DRIVES OUR HEART” i.e. the Love of God. We must live out of and walk in the spirit (and not in the flesh). As we do so we will be better placed to seek and apply/extend mercy and grace to people, trusting that the One to whom vengeance belongs is well able to vindicate and avenge us. Our heartfelt and continued prayer should however be that the offender will respond to the love, mercy and grace being extended by the Lord and by us so that they do not end up on the wrong side of God judgment and vengeance.
