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God in the face of Injustice
Youth Daily Devotional Blog: 06/02
I remember not too long ago, I was sitting in on a pastor’s sermon during a visit to New York City. He was a sweet man, all cargo shorts and floral shirts. The worship was taking place in Central Park, and I remember the serenity of the scene distinctly in my mind. The birds were chirping in the trees, and the sun was high in the sky. Not far, a family of bikers rolled through, giving us gentle waves. However, despite the pastor’s calming demeanor and the beautiful space that we were worshipping in, the topic matter of his sermon was one of violent significance. New York City is a city well known for its history of civic unrest, protest, and public fights against injustice. He was reminding his congregation of the violence that often was the cost of social justice. He reminded the congregation that God was, is, and will be a God of justice, and despite our reservations, God calls us to stand by justice.
This short scripture in Daniel is nothing if not proof of God’s call to fighting injustice. Here, three worshippers of God — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego — are thrown into a flaming furnace because they choose to protest the rule of an unjust king. They are meant to die here, as cost for their refusal to listen to the king’s rule. But they don’t. When the king looks into the furnace, he sees the three men perfectly safe, protected from the flames by the presence of God. And just as God stood by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when they were punished for standing against unjust rule, God stands by us in our acts of protest.
Financial Peace (Virtual) University
FUMC Chula Vista has, for over a decade, been offering classes in financial planning to its members and anyone in the community who is interested. The training, called Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University which addresses the topics of getting out of debt, budgeting, saving, and financial generosity for charities and God’s work, has taken the form of weekly classes usually held at the church campus. As it will be some time before we all, physically, can get together for church, or classes, we have a very good alternative to offer to you. It consists of an on-line, free 14-day trial where you will have access to the entire FPU course (If one is interested in paying for a full membership one can, of course). Several members of our church have gone through this class and have felt that it greatly improved their financial planning and budgeting life, assisted their ability to get out of debt and to be in a place where they can afford to be more generous with their resources toward God’s work to help those folks who have much greater needs than us.
Watch from home and get the proven personal finance plan that has helped millions of people.
If you have any questions regarding this offer/class please contact Ariana Horcasitas our church Director of Finance and Administration, at Ariana.horcasitas@fumccv.org