Posted on 02/21/2010 11:14:37 AM PST by Faith
"They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons; they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters... and the land was polluted with blood. Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against his people, and He abhorred his heritage; he gave them into the hands of the nations, so that those who hated them ruled over them. Their enemies oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their power. (See Psalm 106:37-43)
May God's justice sober our society, and may mercy triumph over judgment.
SCRIPTURE
Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man's brother I will require the life of man. Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man.
- Genesis 9:5-6
REFLECTION - by Rev. John Brown Director, United Friends for Life (United Church of Christ)
* The value of every human being can hardly be seen more clearly than with this verse. God, the King of the universe, has created all human beings in his image, and declares forthrightly that shedding the blood of any individual will require the blood of the one who shed it. God's concern for human beings is not limited to any particular group. Indeed, his concern is universal, and includes male and female, young and old, born and unborn, disabled and able-bodied, the citizens of every nation on earth.
Abortion, the deliberate killing of the unborn, is the shedding of innocent blood. Surely the blood of millions upon millions of innocent children cries out to God. It is true that we live in an age of grace, and yet this passage (among many other texts which express similar sentiments) should give every thinking Christian pause.
Christians of all people, entrusted with the Word of God as we are, must take a stand. We must speak out. We must do all that we can to protect the innocent, to pursue justice, and to encourage the repentance of all those who bear responsibility for this great evil. Only in this manner can we hope to forestall the judgment that must otherwise surely come.
This passage should also be seen as an encouragement to educate and disciple our children and grandchildren about what it means to be human, and the responsibility that will become theirs in this ongoing struggle.
PRAYER
O Father, forgive us for our lack of courage and our want of compassion for the unborn and for those lost and hurt by abortion. Fill us anew with your Spirit. Renew our minds, strengthen us in righteousness, help us be people of salt and light within our nation. May every human being, from conception to natural death, be treated with the respect due those made in your image. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Holy Lord,
Make us useful unto You, that we may be faithful in this battle to preserve life. May the longings of our hearts be in complete harmony with Your will. Fill us with a holy passion for life and for You as our Creator. May we begin each day on our knees, until You, at last, welcome us through the gates of heaven. May we never grow weary in doing good, for in due season the harvest of our labor will be reaped. Make us instruments of Your peace as we stand in defense of the unborn. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Matthew 18:6
"Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believed in me, it were better for him that millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."
Thank you for standing with me in defense of these precious babies.
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
O Father, that we might move from the place of “if only we would” to the place of “yes, Lord, we repent, we truly repent.”
Amen, Pegita. Have mercy, O God, according to thy lovingkindness and tender mercies . . .
'To Him be Glory and Splendid Honor, both Now and Forevermore.' (2Pet.3:18)
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