Joshua 5:13-14a (NIV): Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.”
I am unashamedly for life, from conception to natural death. I have had that position all of my life.
I read Genesis 1:27: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (ESV). This tells me about the sacredness of life. Wow. God’s image. What does that mean? I don’t know it all, but it tells me that I should take every single life as being extremely important.
The debate this past week about the reversal of Roe v. Wade breaks my heart. My desire is that every single person on this planet embrace life the way I do. Of course, that is not the case. Our world is divided: North vs. South. Republicans vs. Democrats. Liberals vs. Conservatives. Pro-Life vs. Pro-Abortion.
What do I do in response to this cultural civil war?
When Joshua was getting ready to make war against Jericho he came across a man with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua asked a question that made sense, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” Joshua wanted to know who this guy with the sword was! A good guy or a bad guy?
Right now, it seems that the thing I want to find out is, “Are you for me or against me?” My tendency is to identify a person as a good guy or a bad guy. I think Joshua wanted to do that. I think I do too.
Well, the guy with the sword responded in a way that surprised Joshua. He said, “Neither!” This guy was there to remind Joshua that there was a bigger issue than just the current war that was going on. God always sees the biggest picture.
Can I see a bigger picture than just seeing the cultural civil war? That is hard for me to do. That means that I need to not only see the baby in the womb as sacred, but I also need to see the life of the abortionist as being sacred too. That means that I ALWAYS lead with grace, even as I lovingly speak truth. I choose to love others. I choose to even love the abortionist.
Prayer: Dear God. I hurt for the loss of life on our globe. I believe that You do too. But You see the biggest picture. You see every single life as sacred, even those who oppose You. You made us all to be able to choose You or reject You. Please use me as an encouragement for others to choose You.
