PEACE AND JUSTICE

Greetings to you dear friends!
Do you find it difficult to believe that today we commence the fifth month of this year? Where have the last four months gone? Well we can't avoid the truth of it, they have gone! And we are today beginning May 2009. I remember as a young lad we used to have a holiday on this day. I think it was called 'Empire Day' and then it became 'May Day' or something like that and as childen we were taken into the city to see the great March, and people were demanding all kinds of things, amongst some of these demands was "PEACE!"
I have been reading a book entitled the words and inspiration of Desmond Tutu, and in this book Archbishop Desmond Tutu makes a statement and it is this; "Peace without justice is an impossibility!"
To be neutral in a situation of injustice is to have chosen sides already. Peace involves inevitable righteousness, justice, wholesomeness, fullnes of life, participation in decision making, goodness, laughter, joy, compassion, sharing and reconciliation.

So many people today are content to just sit "on the fence," but you know when too many people sit on the same fence it must fall down! Let's build fences of protection and justice and then peace will come and be a benefit to those who are finding difficulty and no fair play in the game of life.

I read in the Bible this verse in regard to what the Lord Himself requires of His people; "He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6: 8.

I do believe that Jesus came and revelaed that if we live this way we may have peace with all men and peace within ourselves. Not such an impossible thing to achieve if we all work together to this end.

Jesus who came to bring justice to all men as God would have it, still requires that we live as He has shown us the way.

I remember singing at church these words of a lovely Hymn: "Jesus came with peace to me, His strong arm was stretched to me, then my burden took from me --- my Saviour. " (The Song Book of The Salvation Army Song Book 379 Ch.)

Have a great day and may you know the Justice and Peace of God in all you do today!

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14: 27.