Courage to Act

As I sat looking at the defendant before me, sitting next to his lawyer fighting for less time spent in prison for actions he willingly took, I wanted to be angry at him. He had taken a life. He had acted knowingly. He had made bad choice after bad choice. I should feel some strong emotions toward him, and I did feel strong emotions, but they were surprising. I did not hate this young man. I was not angry at him, and I didn’t even feel pity for him. My emotions were directed toward my city, our systems, and the church.

I was serving as a juror in a criminal case, and it was hitting very close to home. This young man, just in his twenties, never had anyone step in to help him. He never had anyone show him love, mercy, or another way. This young man was like so many others I knew. I have spent over 16 years seeing young men just like this one cross my path, either in the classroom or in the urban ministry for which I work. I have seen courageous men and women from the church step into the mess. I have seen them engage with youth, build relationships, and share the love of Christ with them. I have also seen people walk away thinking it's too hard or a lost cause.

It takes courage to step up for justice. It takes courage to speak up or to take action. This courage was displayed in the words and actions of Zelophehad’s daughters. Zelophehad only had daughters, and by Jewish law, only sons received an inheritance of land. Moses and the leaders of Israel were working to distribute the promised land. Zelophehad’s daughters knew that their father’s name would die along with him without an inheritance, and they would have no provision of their own. They decided to speak up. They brought their case before Moses who then brought their case before the Lord: “The Lord said to him, ‘What Zelophehad’s daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father’s relatives and give their father’s inheritance to them. Say to the Israelites, “If a man dies and leaves no son, give his inheritance to his daughter”’” (Num. 27:6-8).

These daughters had courage to speak up, and they brought change that affected each generation to come after them.

As God’s children, we have courage through His Spirit, and through the sacrifice of Jesus, we have been given freedom and new life. Let us point others toward freedom in Christ by speaking up and taking action when we see injustice. As Isaiah the prophet wrote, “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?” (Isa. 58:6).  

The defendant was found guilty and will spend many years in prison. Justice was served for his crime. However, what if someone had intervened when he was younger? What if a man or woman of God had seen his circumstances, stepped in to get to know him, and help “loose his chains” and share in his burdens? What if someone had shared that Jesus could set him free? What if someone had stepped in and spoken about the injustices in our school systems, our societal systems, and our criminal system? When we fast, like Isaiah, let us fast to “loose the chains” of injustice, to free the oppressed, and to break every yoke. As we fast, let our prayers focus on these things.

Memory Verse: “Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.” Proverbs 28:5 (NIV)

About the Author

Hello! My name is Lindsay McNeely. I live in Tennessee with my husband of 10 years and our daughter (4). Working full-time is both challenging as a mother and rewarding. The challenges cause me to take full advantage of every second with my loving family. On the weekends, we love to grab brunch, explore our little city, or take a short trip together. Time in the Word with other women is my passion and fuel. Join us as we dive deeper in our faith, in God's word, and in community.