James 3:5-6 (NASB)
5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!
6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.

James 3:13-18 (NASB)
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.
15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.
18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

The word “systemic” has been used a lot lately. In the context of its use, it implies that all of a particular political stance, race, religion, or beliefs have an inbred hatred of others different than them. The word implies that this hatred goes to the core of a person, it permeates the entire person.

But as a Christian, I am led by the Holy Spirit to love all others. Do I do that perfectly? No, my heart is not pure. But as sanctification proceeds, I do better each day. And I pray for that purity each day.

As I think about the word “systemic”, I believe that it should be applied rather to sin. Not just my sin, but for the sin of all people. Sin is systemic until the love of Jesus enters our heart.

Heavenly Father, my heart is still sinful. I confess that I do not love others perfectly. I pray that You would erase that sin from my heart. I pray that You would cause my heart and the hearts of all people to perfectly love others. Thank You for Jesus, who loved me; loved me even knowing the sin in my heart. I pray this in the matchless name of Jesus. Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God.

Genesis 4:8b (NASB)
8b And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

Mark 10:34 (NASB)
34 They will mock Him and spit on Him, and scourge Him and kill Him, and three days later He will rise again.”

Every day, probably every hour, possibly every minute people die unjustly at the hand of another person. We live in a world permeated with sin. Sin that causes man to hate man. When we see unjust death, it causes us to grieve. Not just for one that we witness on a tv screen, but for all who have died because of hatred, neglect, or worse.

As I thought about the recent events, I wondered where is the grief from those that feel nothing by the unjust death of Jesus? Where is the joy from those same people that also feel nothing of the miracle of Jesus who raised himself from an unjust death?

Jesus died willingly for us. It was the only way to wipe away the sin that we commit every day, every hour, every minute, and every second. Even a sin as horrible as taking the life of another person. God allowed the ultimate unnecessary death – the very death of His son. I praise God for that death and for the resurrection of the Son that makes our salvation possible.

Grieve for those that die unnecessary deaths. Pray for justice. And pray it would point us to Jesus.

Heavenly Father, I pray for healing, for reconciliation, and for justice. I pray that the sin of one would not cause others to sin. I pray that people would be drawn to Jesus and not to violence. I pray this in His name. Amen.