At four months old, my second daughter was so pleasant we nicknamed her “Happy Girl.”
My husband and I were also happier by the day as we returned to normal rhythms, leaving the fog of sleepless nights behind. But despite her agreeable disposition, Natalie’s skin was far from normal. Angry red patches erupted on her once perfect complexion; now, rough, scaly patches covered her legs and arms.
Though I desperately wanted her eczema to go away, our pediatrician’s solution shocked me in its severity. “You need to eliminate dairy from your diet,” she stated emphatically. “And since it’s impossible to know which dairy protein she’s sensitive to, you’ll need to cut all of it out.”
My head reeled from that pronouncement; I Internet-searched, sighed, mumbled, and even cried a little. (Yes, I love cream in my coffee that much.) Because your body can take weeks to process dairy, the challenge before me was daunting. There would be no sneaking a bite or two of ice cream, no simply “reducing my dairy intake”—I was purging my system of an entire food group. The very definition of a purge is to “expel something completely” and without exception.
In Deuteronomy 19, the Israelites are given a similarly strict, unequivocal instruction themselves as they prepare to settle into a more established way of life in the promised land. But their instruction wasn’t to purge an allergen from their diets. At the end of this chapter, they are told they “must purge the evil” from among them (v.19). This same command is also employed in verse 13.
Here the Lord gave the nation of Israel a directive that required they take a serious stance on the existence of evil. To do this, they had to submit to God as their ultimate authority. Verse 17 explains the deliberations in this way: “The two people in the dispute are to stand in the presence of the LORD before the priests and judges in authority at that time.”
Living in the presence of the Lord changes us and our allegiances. Rather than show pity or rationalization toward sinful behavior, we are to live in joyful obedience to the Lord, leaving sin behind—in doing so, “[we] will prosper” in the presence of and in relationship with our God (v.13).
“No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11). Obedience to the Lord requires unequivocal commitment and a total rejection of sin; those who belong to God are called to cut sin out of our lives as we pursue holiness instead (Matthew 5:48). In the Lord’s goodness, wisdom, and sovereignty, He calls those who follow Him to live lives of fair treatment of others and right action.
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39 thoughts on "Fair Treatment and Right Action"
NADS, I was up all throughout the night last night PRAYING a for Danny!!! I will continue to pray and really appreciate you keeping us updated!!! Praying for God to move in miraculous ways and that his wife’s presence will make a difference!!! ❤️❤️
I haven’t read the scriptures from today’s reading yet… and this is a little off-topic… but TODAY marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah)!! …I always take this day & this time to recognize all that God has done and will continue to do. So I wanted to wish YOU all a very blessed, happy and Christ-filled Rosh Hashanah!! …This Holiday begins this evening (September 6th) and ends Wednesday evening (September 8th) 2021. Here is a little history about it:
Rosh Hashanah, literally meaning “head [of] the year”, is the Jewish New Year. The biblical name for this holiday is Yom Teruah, literally “day of shouting or blasting.” It is the first of the Jewish High Holy Days. Rosh Hashanah begins the leadup to Yom Kippur, some of the holiest days in the Hebrew year (known as “Days of Awe”). Rosh Hashanah celebrates God’s creation of mankind. It is a time of inner renewal and divine atonement. Shana Tovah = Good Year. It is the shortened greeting for Rosh Hashanah. It’s cut down from the full, traditional greeting of ‘L’shanah tovah tikatev v’taihatem’, which means ‘may you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.’
Here’s to a ‘Good Year’ for all of us!! May we be inwardly renewed, inscribed and sealed, and may we recognize God in all that we do and are!! Amen!! Shana Tovah and Many Blessings dear sisters!! Xoxo
Hi All,
I’m repeating / updating my HUGE PRAYER REQUEST from yesterday (Thank you SEARCHING):
My friend (a father of a physically- challenged 7 year old) has gone through so many health issues for YEARS! Saturday, he had a full HEART TRANSPLANT!!!
He needs heavy-duty prayers, PLEASE! There were some serious hiccups with the surgery resulting in low oxygen to the brain for 10 minutes and other organ issues that made him go back to the OR again…he is/was on life support and we are praying for his brain and organs. This morning, after delaying, they started to withdraw sedation… he opened his eyes but, COULDN’T follow simple commands :( His wife is headed to hospital to see if her presence will make any difference.
His name is Danny and I have sent the family a depiction of Daniel in the lion’s den looking to God…my sisters, please join me in praying for Danny’s whole family to the God of the Impossible.
Nads, Praying for Danny, and his daughter. So thankful we have a God who is Big enough for all of the heavy things. Searching thank you for your prayers. I am feeling a little better this morning. Kristin Schroeder, if you are still out there, please let us know how you are and how Derek is. Thinking of and praying for you. Martha Hix, praying you continue to feel His love around you and your family. And for you all dear Sisters, His love never fails. Never. Lean in to the arms of our God.
So much in God’s word Sisters. This weekend our message was on Sabbath and how God invites us into His rest so that we can discern His voice. So appreciated what ERB wrote yesterday concerning this which added to what my Pastor said, with all the voices speaking to us we need to be able to discern God’s voice. Lord help us to know your voice, our Shepherd, and listen to your direction only. May we draw so near that we cannot be deceived by an imitation. I pray in Jesus name. Amen. WEB, I finally saw your message on Saturday, which you posted almost right after mine, and yesterday. I have not received the post from SRT yet. But will watch for it. Or, you can see the first initial of my name, and robin and 7542 with the most popular email carrier. Should work. Thanks again dear friend for all you are doing for me.
MAURA, I got your message from yesterday, this morning, and have already reached out to my Coloradan friends. They want to help you and are keeping their ears open and to the ground. I will let you know as soon as I hear from them!! Know that I am praying for God to open doors!! Much love and blessings to you dear friend!! Xoxo
I need to watch for the little subtle things I give a “pass” to because it gives a crack for the enemy to use to gain footholds in my life. This includes being unjust or unfair with others for it leads to discord.
“Failure to be just and fair destroys community. But conversely, fair treatment and right action create an environment of peace and safety where humans can thrive, which is precisely what God wants for His people. When we get it right; when we treat our family and friends and communities fairly and justly, we model His peace and safety in our relationships.”
–Daniel Mangrum
Lord, help me to be in Your will and to stay on guard against things creeping into my life that should not be there. I pray for wisdom as there is so much in our world now that is in direct opposition to You and Your word, that my faith will be strong and that others will see You through what I say and do.
MAURA – hope you are feeling better today, praying for you and for your housing.
NADS – praying for Danny and family
MARTHA HIX – continuing to pray for you and your family
VICTORIA E – happy to hear your good reports and will continue to pray for you and your little one