But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin. Micah 3:8.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8.

This morning in our Friday Zoom Retreat, we knew we were especially blessed. To be able to gather together as a community deeply loved by Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, and to share His blessing of love for us is everything. And then to listen to a video by John Ortberg about love…that the love of God is a power far greater than the trouble in this world. He cited in ancient times how people admired someone sacrificing one’s life for others, though always with the caveat that they be worthy or virtuous. Jesus, the Son, made no such distinction. And what He did on that cross, that instrument intended to shame, is exactly where we all of us find our healing…in God’s profound love.

And our new chapter and book, Habakkuk 1, is a unique book and I loved in the notes below: “1:1 Habakkuk lived in Judah during the reign of Jehoiakim (2 Kings 23:36-24:5). He prophesied between the fall of Nineveh (capital of Assyria) in 612 B.C. and the Babylonian invasion of Judah in 588 B.C. With Assyria in disarray, Babylon was becoming the dominant world power. This book records the prophet’s dialogue with God concerning the questions, “Why does God often seem indifferent in the face of evil? Why do evil people seem to go unpunished?” While other prophetic books brought God’s word to people, this brought people’s questions to God. A “prophecy” is a message from God.” And this: “1:5ff God told the inhabitants of Jerusalem that they would be utterly amazed at what He was about to do. The people would, in fact, see a series of unbelievable events: (1) their own independent and prosperous kingdom, Judah, would suddenly become a vassal nation; (2) Egypt, a world power for centuries, would be crushed almost overnight; (3) Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian empire, would be so completely ransacked that people would forget where it had been; and (4) the Babylonians would rise to power. Though these words were indeed amazing, the people saw them fulfilled during their lifetime.” The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received. How long, Lord, must I call for help, but You do not listen? Or cry out to You, “Violence!” but You do not save? Why do You make me look at injustice? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted. v. 1-4. Have you ever asked God those questions? I have. And the question remains, whose justice? Mine, yours, the Babylonians, any country or leader today? And God answers. “Look at the nations and watch – and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwellings not their own. They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves, and promote their own honor…They mock kings and scoff at rulers. They laugh at all fortified cities; by building earthen ramps they capture them. Then they sweep past like the wind and go on – guilty people, whose own strength is their god.” v. 5-7, 10-11. Can you imagine being told this today about us and another nation? And Habakkuk’s response? Lord, are not You from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, You will never die. You, Lord, have appointed them to execute judgment; You, my Rock, have ordained them to punish. Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Why then do You tolerate the treacherous? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?…Is he to keep on emptying his net, destroying nations without mercy? v. 12-13, 17. Isn’t that the problem we all share? That we think we are “more righteous than themselves who are wicked”? What does Creator God see? He didn’t look away from the evil being done, else He would not send punishment. He didn’t turn away from the Cross when His own Son was nailed to it. The Father, Son, and Spirit are One. How do we think He will affect healing in us without knowing what needs to be healed? And why. Why…and why in the way God chooses? Because He loves us, His children, so much that While we were still sinners, Christ died for us…that we could live in Him. We. When we allow ourselves to truly ponder this world and the difference in our lives when we accept God’s love for us, how can we not be undone by such profound love? How can we not pray for God’s love in every life? And how can we not trust Creator God to know exactly when that timing is best for that person? And in the meantime of this present life we live in this broken world? God knits together people to help one another to know Him and in knowing and loving Him, to love one another; and to pray for one another that the rippling effect of that love will spread outward even as it grows powerfully within. Sometimes it’s difficult to know what to share in this blog, with so much given just this morning! So I pray. And I trust Creator God to guide my words because it is His wisdom and His love so needed in this world of people so loved by Him. God’s love. For us. It is sacred! Thank You, Lord!