S130P2 – The flavors of God’s favor: correcting injustice
Acts 16:25-26
But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.
He tells a miraculous story reminiscent of that of Paul and Silas. His country had outlawed the preaching of the Gospel, but that did not stop the Church from growing there. He had a large hand in that growth, and he was known locally as a Christian pastor. This public visibility would land him in prison, where he suffered punishment beyond simple confinement. As the days turned to weeks and then months, he continued to pray for his freedom. Then, on what seemed like any other day, he would find his cell door open. From there, every door and gate between him and his freedom also sat open, and he walked through them unnoticed like an invisible man.
We serve a God who is just, and his principles rest on that justice. That is why his words tells us not to avenge the wrongs committed against us but to let him have the vengeance. This world, on the other hand, is not just. If it were, we would not have to rely on the Lord to correct the injustices that we will suffer for his name’s sake. Some think that following Jesus means steering clear of controversy, but that characterization is incomplete. Following him also means being delivered from the controversies that undoubtedly will ensnare us. When we are in the right and doing good, and the world comes against us because of it, we can trust that He will set things right by his favor over us.
I remember being a kid and being blamed for things I did not do. I suffered many punishments unjustly because it appeared that I was guilty or because another lied to save himself. In each instance, I wished that I had someone on my side to prove my case so that I could be cleared. That is what God will do for us. He does not promise that we never will face injustice. Even his Son had to face the ultimate injustice so that we could be saved. The assurance is that He will bring about a just result for his children, and we can rely on that favor. Father, give us the faith to look forward to the just result when the world’s injustice snares us.