Called To Practice Law

695 Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 23:3-5, “The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: 'He who rules over men must be just, Ruling in the fear of God. 4 And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, A morning without clouds, Like the tender grass springing out of the earth, By clear shining after rain.' Those who rule over men must rule on the basis of the fear of the Lord, this fear, or respect of the Lord causes them to rule justly. An example of this kind of just ruling is found in Ne 5:15. In this verse, Nehemiah speaks of the unjust rule of his predecessors when he said, “ But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I did not do so, because of the fear of God.” Nehemiah ruled justly, he put no unfair burdens on anyone. All were treated fairly and he didn't use his position of power to line his personal pockets. But even as we link this just rule to secular authorities, the principle goes beyond that and carries over into the individual lives of the followers of Jesus. Saints, (believers) are to “rule justly” in all their dealings with others. The church is called to exercise rule here on earth as the Apostle Paul wrote in 1Co 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? I'm not sure what this rule will look like for believers in heaven, but I know that God encourages us to put justice into practice in our daily dealings here on earth. And when we get it right, springtime breaks out in whatever environment we are in. Beloved, let's you and I learn to treat others in accordance with the Word of God.