Building One Another  

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. I Thessalonians 5:11

We are Sent to Stand Up!

Dear Friend,

What comes to your mind when you read the famous words of the prophet Micah that begin with, “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice…?” Micah 6:8

When we consider the ways God “sends” us to do the work of Christ in the world, we know we are sent to show up with compassion and speak up with words of faith. The calls for justice in scripture also teach us that we are sent do stand up for what is right.

While there are many social justice issues that roil our culture at the moment, issues that may affect you personally, there are also matters of justice that are personal to our family relationships or things going on at work or in our neighborhoods and churches.

Elton Trueblood, the wonderful Quaker Theologian used to talk about the significance of the conjunction “and” as we live out the balance conviction and compassion.

Elton’s observation was that when we stand up for what we believe is right, we are also called to do it in a way that sustains the well-being of others involved, whether they are “on our side” or on “the other side.” This is “speaking the truth in love.” Ephesians 4:15

Thus, it would seem that to balance conviction and compass calls for the balance of gumption and grace – the courage to stand up and the grace to lift up people. When you stand up be careful to also build up the people involved!

Joy to you – Stan

© Copyright 2023 E. Stanley Ott

Scripture from the ESV

1. What is a situation in your own life where you had to stand up for something or someone or someone stood up for you.
2. Have you see people stand up (or even your own self) in such a way that there was conviction but no compassion? How can you stand up in a challenging situation on behalf of a point of view and do it in such a way as to sustain the well-being of others involved on all sides?
3. As the God who loves you for the grace and strength to enable you to stand up with grace and gumption!

Photo by Joel Danielson on Unsplash