How Shall We Be Judged?

God's Prophets Demand Justice
God' Prophets Demand Justice

Advocates of Justice for All


God Demands Justice

Joel 3:9-17  The Message

^9-11 Announce this to the godless nations:
    Prepare for battle!
Soldiers at attention!
    Present arms! Advance!
Turn your shovels into swords,
    turn your hoes into spears.
Let the weak one throw out his chest
    and say, “I’m tough, I’m a fighter.”
Hurry up, pagans! Wherever you are, get a move on!
    Get your act together.
Prepare to be
    shattered by God!

¹² Let the pagan nations set out
    for Judgment Valley.
There I’ll take my place at the bench
    and judge all the surrounding nations.

¹³ “Swing the sickle—
    the harvest is ready.
Stomp on the grapes—
    the winepress is full.
The wine vats are full,
    overflowing with vintage evil.

¹⁴ “Mass confusion, mob uproar—
    in Decision Valley!
God’s Judgment Day has arrived
    in Decision Valley.

^15-17 “The sky turns black,
    sun and moon go dark, stars burn out.
God roars from Zion, shouts from Jerusalem.
    Earth and sky quake in terror.
But God is a safe hiding place,
    a granite safe house for the children of Israel.
Then you’ll know for sure
    that I’m your God,
Living in Zion,
    my sacred mountain.
Jerusalem will be a sacred city,
    posted: ‘no trespassing.’

For Reflection 

We are living in the Valley of Decision.  It is time for us to decide to whom we owe our allegiance.  To what extent do we owe ourselves to the common man, the cultural from which we spring?  To what extent do we owe ourselves to the Lord who asks us to defy the common culture for God Culture?  How, indeed, will we be judged?

Pray

for the wisdom to make the right decisions when facing tough issues.  Pray that what you decide will please God.  Pray for God's grace when facing dilemmas.