We make lots of little decisions - the video showed kids choosing between sports activities, snacks, which subject to study first...but the most important decision you'll make is "Am I going to stand up for what is JUST?"
Justice = other words are "fairness", "being treated right"
The story of Micah: Lived in the Southern Kingdom (Judah), a time when people said they worshiped God (they kept up the sacrifices) but they treated the poor unfairly. Micah brought two complaints against the people:
1. The land of the poor was being seized and those people had nowhere to go
2. The prophets who should have warned against this were not true prophets - sometimes they said what they were paid to say
As a prophet, Micah brought a message from the Lord. To Israel - who asked "how religious are we supposed to be so that God isn't mad at us?" he answered - "God's already shown you what is good and he's been good to you! Just act justly, love mercy with your hearts, and walk humbly with him."
Micah 6:8 - "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (NIV)
What does it mean? Sometimes we can get an idea by looking at other Bible translations:
Other translations: "No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." (NLT)
"The Lord has shown you what is good. He has told you what he requires of you. You must treat people fairly. You must love others faithfully. And you must be very careful to live the way your God wants you to." (NIrV)
In the world - in our country - in our towns - in your neighborhoods and schools - there is injustice. That's where you come in.
The decisions we make:
+ We can decide to do right
+ We can decide to do wrong
+ We can decide not to do wrong
+ We can decide not to do right
James 4:17 says if you know the good you ought to do and don't do it, it's sin.
Morgan's Story: Morgan McKeown of our church, preparing for another overseas missions project, this one to make a documentary about people who are slaves in Thailand. Hopefully later this year she will be over there.
What is a kid supposed to do? Use the "season" of your life to decide how you feel about injustice, just as Morgan is using this "season" to prepare to go overseas.
Important ?s for a 10-12 year old:
* Whose side am I on? Am I on the side of justice?
* What's important to me?
* How do I feel when I see people mistreated?
One way injustice/unfair treatment shows up among kids is teasing and bullying. Many of us have been teased. Some have done the teasing. But EVERYONE has known someone who's been in it. So everyone is part of the solution (or the problem).
If you're a teaser - know that this is not pleasing to God. You can do all the religious stuff you want, but God knows your heart by the way you live. Teasing is not justice. Especially if you're teasing someone you don't know. Friendly teasing among friends can be ok, but watch it - sometimes we go too far and are hurting feelings at the "friend"'s expense.
If you're the one being teased - know that God is on your side. He is for justice...but not revenge. The way we get justice is to appeal to the adults who are in authority.
If you're a witness to teasing - be a help to both sides. Discourage the teaser; encourage the one being teased. And use the adults who are in authority. Don't stay silent.
What if you decided in 2009 that you were going to stand up for justice?
What if we ALL decided in 2009 that we were going to stand up for justice?
