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God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished —- he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:25-26 NIV)
A judge had a reputation for extreme severity. It was aid that he "sat like a graven image on a case, seldom opened his mouth, and had a cold eye, which seemed to look into the very heart of a witness."
Everybody feared him. Even the reporters dreaded him -- or they used to. This is all over now. Once these reporters were accused of accepting bribes to withhold publication of the names of certain prominent people who had appeared in court. The charge was false, but the reporters didn't know how to clear themselves.
Help came from an unexpected source. The judge rose in his place and said that for years he had watched the reporters, knowing they would be tempted by bribes; yet he was convinced they had done their work honestly, and he could not remain silent while honest men were publicly charged with fraud. His statement was printed next day, and the charges were immediately withdrawn.
Afterward the judge became as silent as ever, and many people feared him as before. But the reporters no longer feared him, for they had learned that his searching eye was their protection; they read the hearts of man and knew his kindness to them.
As the reporters misread the character of the judge, so we sometimes mistake the character of God. We think of Him as a harsh, uncaring judge, aware of us only when we sin and earn His rebuke and punishment. We hope to forget God and be forgotten ourselves.
But all the time God has been trying to attract our attention. He looks upon us and calls to us. And when we finally look to Him, we find that He, the Judge, has acted to clear our names in the name and for the sake of His Son.
--John T. Faris
A judge had a reputation for extreme severity. It was aid that he "sat like a graven image on a case, seldom opened his mouth, and had a cold eye, which seemed to look into the very heart of a witness."
Everybody feared him. Even the reporters dreaded him -- or they used to. This is all over now. Once these reporters were accused of accepting bribes to withhold publication of the names of certain prominent people who had appeared in court. The charge was false, but the reporters didn't know how to clear themselves.
Help came from an unexpected source. The judge rose in his place and said that for years he had watched the reporters, knowing they would be tempted by bribes; yet he was convinced they had done their work honestly, and he could not remain silent while honest men were publicly charged with fraud. His statement was printed next day, and the charges were immediately withdrawn.
Afterward the judge became as silent as ever, and many people feared him as before. But the reporters no longer feared him, for they had learned that his searching eye was their protection; they read the hearts of man and knew his kindness to them.
As the reporters misread the character of the judge, so we sometimes mistake the character of God. We think of Him as a harsh, uncaring judge, aware of us only when we sin and earn His rebuke and punishment. We hope to forget God and be forgotten ourselves.
But all the time God has been trying to attract our attention. He looks upon us and calls to us. And when we finally look to Him, we find that He, the Judge, has acted to clear our names in the name and for the sake of His Son.
--John T. Faris
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