"If you don't like the way the world is, you change it. You have an obligation to
change it. You just do it one step at a time."-Marian Edelman Wright, Founder,
Children’s Defense Fund
How does that quote make you feel? Not, what does it make you think…but what
does it do inside of you? Does it tap into something? Some latent desire? Some yet
to be explored longing?
How about this one? “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone
across the waters to create many ripples.” – Mother Teresa
or this…”A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it’s
the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead
or this…how does this make you feel? The people who are crazy enough to think
they can change the world are the ones who do. Unknown
If you are the least bit alive and the least bit paying attention then I am guessing
that one or more of those quotes awakened a bit of something within you.
Something…maybe just a spark…but some tiny bit of anticipation.
If the thought of you, being one of those who can actually change the world raised
your blood pressure a bit…maybe awakened some possibilities…maybe even
revealed a quest…If you felt something about changing the world…well, you just
got a tiny taste of the good life.
The good life is a lot of things, but it certainly is a life of impact.
When you engage in some act, some lifestyle, some choice in which good comes to
another, (like John Williamson)… in which a wrong is righted, in which a need is
met by your hand….you say to yourself….Man that feels good!
There is a reason for that. There’s a reason that changing the world feels good and
feels like a slice of the good life.
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You were created for it! You were created to be one of the crazy ones!
For you are God’s masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which
God prepared in advance for you to do. Ephesians 2:10
So, when you do something wonderful and thoughtful…something healing and
giving…when you do something right for another…you are stepping into your Godgiven destiny…and Man that is the Good life!
The good life is one of great impact.
So, if you are the least bit intrigued…stay with me…I’m about to give you another
taste of the good life…the good life of impact…the good life of changing the world.
Review of the series so far…For three weeks we’ve been giving you a tasting
menu…small bites of the ingredients of the good life…the full life…the abundant
life…the life of flourishing which is exactly what Jesus wishes for you and fought so
hard for you to experience.
You experiencing the good life defines the very mission of the Son of God: I have
come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
The first course in our good life tasting was that of Freedom. To be free…free from
the power and penalty of sin is what we all crave. We learned that if you want
freedom you have to practice surrender.
The second course was that of fruitfulness…like a tree in the spring…bursting into
leaf and fruit…alive with productivity and possibilities. We learned that if you want
fruitfulness you have to practice communion with God.
The third course was a good name…a good reputation. It is the good life when you
are well respected and admired. But of course that doesn’t just happen to you
without practice…the practice of moral integrity.
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Now before we move on one comment in retrospect about my Game of Thrones
comments…I asked if you watch GoT…”what’s wrong with you?”. In retrospect
that comment was in bad form…it was shaming, and I am sorry!
So are you ready for the 4th course? The fourth ingredient of the good life is
impact.
The good life is one of great impact.
But like the others, of course, it doesn’t just happen to you…it take practice.
The good life is one of great impact. And the path to impact is through the practice
of justice.
Isaiah 58:6 page ______________
Context:
Isaiah was a prophet…a mouthpiece of God…to Israel.
This book … a compilation of his prophecies and likely a few other prophets
whose writings are in his name.
This section of the book was directed to Israel after they had returned from
exile.
The land, the capital, the walls were in a state of ruin after years of
occupation and neglect
The people were trying to get their act together. And trying hard to get God
to care for them again.
o so much so that they were trying fasting…personal deprivation…to
show God how serious they were.
You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. Isaiah
58:4
6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and
untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 7 Is it
not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with
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shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your
own flesh and blood? 8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your
healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the
glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. 9 Then you will call, and the LORD will
answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the
yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, 10 and if you spend
yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then
your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. 11
The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a
spring whose waters never fail. 12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and
will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. Isaiah 58:6-12
The good life is one of great impact. And the path to impact is through the practice
of justice.
So, I want to explain as best I can what the practice of justice looks like but first I
want you to see just how good of a life you can have if you practice it…
this prophecy is laced with promises of good things that will come to the
crazy ones who practice justice such as…
58:8 - Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly
appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will
be your rear guard.
There’s a lot going on here in this very poetic prophecy:
…your light will break forth like the dawn,
o honestly I’m not sure what this means but it sure feels like waking up to
a new day
…your healing will quickly appear;
o is this hyperbole? Could it be that your brokenness will subside?
…your righteousness will go before you,
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o your reputation will change
o your integrity will start to protect you
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
o God himself will protect you (which is exactly what we saw last week)
o you won’t even have to ask for God’s protection – you seek justice –
he’s got your back!
58:9 - Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he
will say: Here am I.
If you practice justice God will be responsive to you. He will be on the spot.
Ironically…This is what they wanted and why they were fasting in the first
place!
58:10 …and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs
of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will
become like the noonday.
again a reference to a new day…there will be clarity…the night will be over
58:11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched
land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a
spring whose waters never fail.
No need for me to interpret – let the poetry speak for itself! Some sweet
imagery of the good life!
…and this last promise is one I just love…if you are one of the crazy ones…one of
the ripple makers who practice justice…
58:12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old
foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with
Dwellings.
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Talk about a good reputation! You practice justice…and you will have
enormous impact on the world and your community…
o you will help your community restore its foundations, rebuild its
walls…and make it eminently habitable again.
The good life is one of great impact. And the path to impact is through the practice
of justice.
So, what is the practice of justice?
Vs. 6 to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the
oppressed free and break every yoke?
4 key words: chains, cords, yoke, oppression (crushed)
4 key actions: loose, untie, set free, break
These offer for us a graphic picture of injustice…crushing, gagging, stifling
oppression
o injustice is a slavery of sorts in which a person or family or community
is under the control of forces they cannot fight on their own.
injustice is a young girl lured into sex slavery
injustice is an immigrant family stuck in a cycle of generational
poverty
injustice is a 3 month old fetus child facing its elimination through
abortion
injustice is young man facing hate inflamed racism that
perpetuates systemic discrimination
You will not practice world changing justice until the horror of injustice grips
your soul.
There is no impact without agony.
But let’s get specific: What is the practice of justice?
Vs. 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor
wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn
away from your own flesh and blood?
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here are very practical acts of injustice
o food, shelter, clothing, and basic acts of humanity
o I was stunned, in a good way, to hear the Pope’s response to the
question as to why he personally rescued a dozen Muslim Syrian
Refugees last week:
(Image of the Pope and refugees)
“This is exactly what a moral leader should do” Pope Francis
Providing shelter for the homeless (Literally what wanderer means) is an act
of justice…it is the moral thing to do…when you do that you will become a
person of impact
But justice is not just practical stuff…it is deeper and more soulish than that…
Vs. 9 doing away with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
justice is changing our rhetoric
“pointing finger” – awkwardly literally is translated “speaking of the finger”
o injustice is accusatory and defaming and prejudicial and categorical
o injustice is malicious
o this is exactly what America has evolved into…the land of the pointing
finger and malicious lips.
Justice is about open palms and open arms not fists and fingers. When you
practice you purposely set about to change the tone from malice to love.
So…again The good life is one of great impact. And the path to impact is through
the practice of justice.
Let’s get insanely practical again…
1. Pay attention to injustice. Look for it and name it. (Like John Williamson)
2. Change the dialogue in your sphere of influence from malice to love.
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3. Change the way you possess things.
a. My time is God’s time
b. My money is God’s money
4. Roll up your sleeves and do something
a. Care Center
b. Partner ministries – pick a broken place!
5. Join the Way of Discipleship (the lobby stuff)
(Images of disciples and disciplers doing mission together…)
"If you don't like the way the world is, you change it. You have an obligation to
change it. You just do it one step at a time." Marian Edelman Wright
Don’t swing for the fences yet…just get on base…one step at a time…start with
little acts of justice and watch what God does with it and where he takes you…
I guarantee it will feel like the Good life!