A quick reflection on 2022 as I prepare my heart for church, having gotten up late on this first day of 2023. I’ll post more later today if newsworthy information comes in, but for now the most newsworthy thing I can say, is to tell the followers of Ridgeview News, “You have made this such a blessed year and THANK YOU.”
Today we’re given a new page to begin writing our story, both you and I. The best thing we can do as a community is love each other, show compassion for the weak, encourage the strong and speak truth. Unapologetically. My mind always goes back to when Jesus turned over the tables in the temple and ran the money guys out with a whip. That was Jesus. The same Jesus that the world loves to paint a picture of accepting every behavior.
John 2:14-15 KJVS
And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: [15] And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;
Before you think that I’m saying I have the right to judge and punish the less than righteous, that would be wrong. You see, I’m a sinner too. I have no right to judge anyone in the eyes of God. But Jesus is God, so He can whip people if He wants too. But, we all have the right to know and understand the truth. The truth of John 2:14-15 is the religious were making a profit off the people who were giving to the Lord. They were taking what they had no right to and taking advantage of poor people. Jesus was angry…..
And I have to get to church…. So I’ll finish this when I get back!
I know… that’s terrible. But I don’t want to rush this thought. Part 1 of 2
Part 2:
The point of reflecting upon this scripture for me is this. In Jesus’ righteous anger, He exposed the truth about the church. Which was His primary concern. God knows everything that occurs in the world. But He does not involve Himself in every secular thing. He’ll hold “His” people accountable for their deeds in life. But God will not always interfere in the affairs of men. That’s why we need people who seek the truth. Because for certain it wouldn’t get exposed by those involved in ill deeds. We need a check and balance system. We also need encouragement. I pray I’ve been that too.
That’s the goal of the Ridgeview News, be it good, or bad, just give the truth. Because with the truth we can make better decisions as a community. Until this year, there was much I did not know, and I’m sure there is still plenty to learn with regards to the inner workings of county, city and state government. My ear is always open suggestions or questions, even the tough ones.
You would have thought I could have gotten those two paragraphs out before church. But I could not. So there it is. Ridgeview’s reflections from 2022. Again, thank you for the blessings of 2022!
