Spain Minus 11 Days

Jeremiah 11.1-4 reminds us that, despite the title of this post, we should consider and act on more than just a brief visit to people in a far away country. What are God's people to do? "Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place" (v. 3, ESV). All this is to happen right here at home. We pursue justice and we avoid injustice quite purposely. In less than 11 days, GFC will be hosting a conference to develop a clear biblical picture of the family and God's purpose for the family. We are able to work here and now to pursue justice and avoid injustice within our families and homes. On a daily basis we have opportunity to minister to our families, friends, neighbors, the people we see casually, a host of people all needing us to pursue justice, needing to be protected from injustice.
If you've read the posts on this blog, you know that we affirm that we always fail in our attempts at righteousness. And today, when pursuing justice and avoiding injustice, every one of us will see many instances of our failure to accomplish those goals, not to mention our failure to desire those goals. These demands God has made are what we can call the Law. God has made his demands in his Law statements throughout Scripture. We are bound to keep God's law in order to live a righteous life. We are doomed to failure.
Thanks be to God, he has given us, in addition to his law, his Gospel. The Gospel is that which God has done on our behalf through Christ. We get the Gospel statement in verse 4 of Jeremiah 22. "For if you will indeed obey this word, then there shall enter the gates of this house kings who sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their servants and their people" (ESV). Here's the good news. Despite our unbelief and disobedience, God the Father has sent God the Son, Jesus, to sit on the throne of David, the new and eternal King. He is surrounded by his servants and people - the believers he has adopted as his sons. We are members of that royal household based on Christ's obedience.
Let's go and do justice, since Christ our King sends us to do it. Let's trust that he has enabled us to do what is pleasing in his sight, at home or abroad.
Pray for the families of the Spain team and the other GFC families. Pray that they will rejoice in an opportunity to serve others with mercy. Pray that they will work courageously at the command of the King. Pray that the true Gospel of Christ will shine through his people.