STUBBORN

 

Write From My Heart

June 18, 2021

 

STUBBORN  refusing to yield, obey, or comply; determined to have one’s way; obstinate

 

Zechariah 7:8-12 (NLT)  Then this message came to Zechariah from the LORD: “This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other.  Your ancestors refused to listen to this message. They stubbornly turned away and put their fingers in their ears to keep from hearing. They made their hearts as hard as stone, so they could not hear the instructions or the messages that the LORD of Heaven’s Armies had sent them by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. That is why the LORD of Heaven’s Armies was so angry with them.”

 

Ponder this: When you think about it, widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor have enough of a daily burden to bear. So be kind. Show mercy. Treat them fairly. The shame today is that there are those who would exploit the plight of others in order to gain political power and make unjust and unfair laws, rules, and legislation. So I think in part this means we are not to blame the downtrodden for the despicable actions of greedy self-centered governmental leaders, but neither are we to stand by as helpless weaklings wringing our hands in bewilderment. If we are to judge fairly, then we must do our homework and determine how to make our voting privilege the most effective. Remember those in office who make poor or self-promoting choices (who scheme against each other—who stubbornly turn away—whose hearts are made of stone) and do not vote them back in for further terms. Make your vote count. Choose to support legislation that does not promote a society of freeloaders. Yes, you have a right to do that! Then, as you have opportunity, help those individuals in your area who need to see the love of Christ manifested through your acts of kindness and mercy.