Week 3 | Day 5 | SPEAK UP!

Command:

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” Matthew 7:1 (NIV)

Read:

“Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.” Proverbs 31:9 (NLT)

Reflect:

My son recently became known as the class snitch. There was some behavior happening on the playground involving older kids that didn’t sit right with him, so he reported it to a teacher. Although he was commended by the adults at school for being courageous and doing “the right thing,” it was a very unpopular opinion amongst his peers. For days, he struggled with friendships and being accepted. He began questioning himself about whether he did the right thing. 

We will come across situations in life that make us question if we should speak up when we see injustice. Proverbs 31:9 answers this question with a resounding “yes.” God’s word pushes us to move past our comfort zones and to become an advocate for the defenseless and for those that need help being heard. When my son began to question his actions, I made it a point to shout it from the rooftops, “YES! You did the right thing!” I wanted him to understand that he was honoring God’s word by defending the defenseless.

Speaking up can feel uncomfortable and sometimes painful. There can be real costs to speaking up. But inaction is not something the Bible makes room for. So next time an unfair situation presents itself to you, remember that honoring God’s word is always the right thing to do. 

React:

How are you using your voice to defend the rights of those who can’t defend themselves? What are you doing to speak up for what you know is right? 

Pray:

Thank you, God, for my voice. Help me to be bold and speak up. Amen