Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

A Daily Devotional by Kenton Cheek

14 February 2024

Reading From Leviticus 5-7

“If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible.”

–Leviticus 5:1

     This verse should be punctuated with a mic drop from God.  The concept revealed here has profound ramifications for both my private and public life, and for society as a whole.  When I witness something wrong happening, I am to come forward with my testimony.  If I stay quiet and go on my way, I am guilty of sin.  Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”  There are times when people see something evil happening and they misguidedly believe that if they don’t come forward and just go about their business, no one will know that they saw it and did nothing to stop it.  Not so. 

     God sees everything and according to Proverbs 24:11-12, we are to “Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, ‘But we knew nothing about this,’ does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?  Does not he who guards your life know it?  Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?”  God sees all, including our hearts, and will bring everyone to justice at the Judgment.  We are not only responsible for ourselves, but also for our fellow man.  We have the ability to bring more and more justice to this very unjust world if we observe, tell the truth and then do something about it.  What I don’t want to do is speak out and let the chips fall where they may.  If I can take it a step further by actively working to bring positive change and healing to the situation that has been exposed, I should do so.

“Lord, give me the courage to speak up when I see something go on that shouldn’t be happening.  Grant me wisdom to know to pick my battles, how to speak the truth in love in such a way that is effective not only in exposing evil, but in a way that brings healing to those involved.  Help me be brave in standing up for what is true, for You are the way, the truth and the life.  Amen.”

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

–Ephesians 4:14-16

He has shown you, O mortal, 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.

Micah 6:8