THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2009
'Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.'
- Proverbs 31:8-9
"Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."
- Psalm 82:3-4
What are the duties required in the sixth commandment?
A. The duties required in the sixth commandment are, all careful studies, and lawful endeavours, to preserve the life of ourselves and others by resisting all thoughts and purposes, subduing all passions, and avoiding all occasions, temptations, and practices, which tend to the unjust taking away the life of any; by just defence thereof against violence, patient bearing of the hand of God, quietness of mind, cheerfulness of spirit; a sober use of meat, drink, physick, sleep, labour, and recreations; by charitable thoughts, love, compassion, meekness, gentleness, kindness; peaceable, mild and courteous speeches and behaviour; forbearance, readiness to be reconciled, patient bearing and forgiving of injuries, and requiting good for evil; comforting and succouring the distressed, and protecting and defending the innocent. (emphasis mine)
- Westminster Larger Catechism Q and A 135
'God's word calls us to help those most despised by the world, to love the least lovely. So there must be, however much the world will despise us as religious fanatics, indeed, especially since the world despises these convictions, a special place in our hearts for the unborn.'
- John Frame, Ministries of Mercy to the Unborn, http://www.frame-poythress.org/frame_articles/1999Ministries.htm
- Proverbs 31:8-9
"Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."
- Psalm 82:3-4
What are the duties required in the sixth commandment?
A. The duties required in the sixth commandment are, all careful studies, and lawful endeavours, to preserve the life of ourselves and others by resisting all thoughts and purposes, subduing all passions, and avoiding all occasions, temptations, and practices, which tend to the unjust taking away the life of any; by just defence thereof against violence, patient bearing of the hand of God, quietness of mind, cheerfulness of spirit; a sober use of meat, drink, physick, sleep, labour, and recreations; by charitable thoughts, love, compassion, meekness, gentleness, kindness; peaceable, mild and courteous speeches and behaviour; forbearance, readiness to be reconciled, patient bearing and forgiving of injuries, and requiting good for evil; comforting and succouring the distressed, and protecting and defending the innocent. (emphasis mine)
- Westminster Larger Catechism Q and A 135
'God's word calls us to help those most despised by the world, to love the least lovely. So there must be, however much the world will despise us as religious fanatics, indeed, especially since the world despises these convictions, a special place in our hearts for the unborn.'
- John Frame, Ministries of Mercy to the Unborn, http://www.frame-poythress.org/frame_articles/1999Ministries.htm
With the busyness of our lives and the pressures of these days it is easy to lose our voice for those who need it most. I can think of a thousand things to occupy my time and forget to speak up for those that have no voice. This week I was moved by this story http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,571215,00.html. In it a strongly pro-choice director of a Planned Parenthood clinic was moved to embrace life. The faithfulness of those who provide a voice for the voiceless and an ultrasound video changed her mind. I thank God for those who , in innumerable ways, bear witness to God's unequivocal commitment to life. I also thank God for the privilege of serving a church that loves life. Your love for the God of life is a constant testimony to me. Your tangible expressions of protecting and defending the innocent speaks volumes. Thank you for tangibly loving the voiceless. Thank you for adopting children and for loving adopted children. Thank you for contributing to the needs of the innocent. Thank you for speaking words of life to those considering abortion and adoption. Thank you for speaking the gospel to those suffering under the guilt of abortion. Thank you giving sacrificially to help others adopt. Thank you for making time available to fix cupboards and computers at the local pregnancy resource center. Thank you for cleaning toilets and vacuuming floors and doing all sorts of work behind the scenes so that the counselors at the pregnancy resource center can do their job.
No comments:
Post a Comment