‘Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.’ Proverbs 31:8 NIV
The Bible calls us to take a stand against things that are unjust. ‘Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy’ (vv.8-9). So, who is it that God’s calling us to stand up for? In the world today, there are plenty of people, and situations, who need someone to take a stand. We can take a stand against poverty, human trafficking, environmental damage, homelessness, and many more.
These can seem like huge issues to stand against. We can feel a bit unsure about what we, as individuals, can do to bring about change. The Bible gives us some handy advice: ‘And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God’ (Micah 6:8 NIV). We need to start by getting into God’s Word and asking Him to give us His heart for the people who can’t stand for themselves.
One of the greatest commands in the Bible is to ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ (Mark 12:31 NIVUK). And part of loving those around us, is standing up for them when they can’t stand up for themselves. After that, we need to make sure our actions are just. Maybe we can buy ethical products or raise awareness of injustice through Social Media. Even though injustice is a massive issue in today’s society, we shouldn’t let the problem overwhelm us. Small steps and small actions can make a huge difference. We can’t do everything, but we can do something. And we can’t let what we can’t do, keep us from doing what we can.
What Now?
Ask God to place a specific situation or group of people on your heart. Then do some research as to how you can stand up for them.
Bible in a Year: Isaiah 45-46, Philippians 4
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