Focus
As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God in whatever way that may take place.
Read
23 “You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with the wicked to act as a malicious witness. 2 You shall not follow a majority in wrongdoing; when you bear witness in a lawsuit, you shall not side with the majority so as to pervert justice, 3 nor shall you be partial to the poor in a lawsuit.
4 “When you come upon your enemy’s ox or donkey going astray, you shall bring it back.
5 “When you see the donkey of one who hates you struggling under its burden and you would hold back from setting it free, you must help to set it free.
6 “You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in their lawsuits. 7 Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent and those in the right, for I will not acquit the guilty. 8 You shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds officials and subverts the cause of those who are in the right.
9 “You shall not oppress a resident alien; you know the heart of an alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.
Reflect
When I read Exodus 23:1-9 above, my first thought was what I saw on social media just today. “Do not spread false reports” was ignored when someone posted the rumor that The Varsity in Atlanta was going to close in order to make way for a multi-million-dollar development. It is a drive in/dine in restaurant first opened in 1928 and is a beloved landmark. It would break the hearts of chili dog and onion ring-loving Georgians for the Varsity to go the way of so many historic sites……….
Except that it wasn’t true. The Varsity owners are considering selling only parts of their parking lots, not the iconic restaurant. Someone posted the rumor on social media and upset many people, who then spread the false witness faster than the Varsity staff can fill your order. And folks, that is fast! We are to honest and truthful in all that we do, say, and post, even if we must be inconvenienced by checking the sources before we post.
God told Moses to address things like this back in ancient times, plus the other ills. Following the crowd in wrongdoing, playing favorites, being a false witness, committing bribery, refusing to help others, and denying people justice, and oppressing those who come to our land are acts that are spelled out as wrong in God’s eyes, and we will be held accountable by God. Even when we use social media, which some people view as entertainment, we need to please God by acting with honesty and integrity.
Pray
Lord, help us to walk humbly and with integrity before You and your fellow human beings. Amen
Amen
Go with God!
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