Matter vs Palah’

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 [MA-ter]

𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑛. something that occupies space.

𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑏. to be of importance.

"You matter." "He matters." "I matter." I understand the intention behind the phrase but, to my heart, if falls so flat. This chair matters. Because it serves me, and I will be upset (literally) if it breaks. My schedule matters. Because it allows me to accomplish that which I feel is important.

To have the same word used for both people made in the image of God AND inatimate objects seems almost crass.

Too often it seems that the phrase "______ lives matter" has become a scapegoat for caring. It is removed just enough personal investment that the subject becomes a tagline.

Perhaps if our hearts understood 𝑝𝑎𝑙𝑎ℎ' then we would appreciate God's handiwork more...

𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗵' [pah-LAH]

𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑛. to be distinct, marked out, be separated, be distinguished, to be wonderful

𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑏. to make separate, set apart

We see this word in the context of Psalm 139 where we read, "𝐼 𝑝𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢, 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐼 𝑎𝑚 𝑓𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑚𝑎𝑑𝑒. 𝑊𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑠; 𝑚𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑙 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤𝑠 𝑖𝑡 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑤𝑒𝑙𝑙."

Now if THAT were how we as humans view our fellow image-bearers, if we collectively perceived the intrinsic worth and inalienable value of each human being, then this world would see Jesus more clearly.

(𝑃𝑎𝑙𝑎ℎ: 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑠 6395)

Faith in the Trial

Against hope Abraham believed in hope with the result that he became the father of many nations according to the pronouncement, “so will your descendants be.” Without being weak in faith, he considered his own body as dead (because he was about one hundred years old) and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. — Rom 4:18-19

We shall never forget a remark that George Mueller once made to a gentleman who had asked him the best way to have strong faith.

“The only way,” replied the patriarch of faith, “to learn strong faith is to endure great trials. I have learned my faith by standing firm amid severe testings.” This is very true. The time to trust is when all else fails.

Dear one, you scarcely realize the value of your present opportunity; if you are passing through great afflictions you are in the very soul of the strongest faith, and if you will only let go, He will teach you in these hours the mightiest hold upon His throne which you can ever know.

“Be not afraid, only believe.” And if you are afraid, just look up and say, “What time I am afraid I will trust in thee,” and you will yet thank God for the school of sorrow which was to you the school of faith. --A. B. Simpson

“Great faith must have great trials.”

“God’s greatest gifts come through travail. Whether we look into the spiritual or temporal sphere, can we discover anything, any great reform, any beneficent discovery, any soul-awakening revival, which did not come through the toils and tears, the vigils and blood-shedding of men and women whose sufferings were the pangs of its birth? If the temple of God is raised, David must bear sore afflictions; if the Gospel of the grace of God is to be disentangled from Jewish tradition, Paul’s life must be one long agony.”

“Take heart, O weary, burdened one, bowed down  Beneath thy cross; Remember that thy greatest gain may come  Through greatest loss. Thy life is nobler for a sacrifice,  And more divine. Acres of bloom are crushed to make a drop  Of perfume fine.

“Because of storms that lash the ocean waves,  The waters there Keep purer than if the heavens o’erhead  Were always fair. The brightest banner of the skies floats not  At noonday warm; The rainbow traileth after thunder-clouds,  And after storm.”

(From Streams in the Desert, June 2)

Oh Lord, Come Quickly

🌿When it seems that truth is hiding behind a cloud of fear and pride, and hope is being suffocated by selfish worldviews, it can be hard to know what to believe, much less what to do. But regardless of the most bitter of circumstances there are tennants of understanding that must always be remembered.

🌿Know that all life must be guarded, as all humans were created in the image of God. Know that Truth is immovable and unwavering, and Justice and Right Living must be the standards of community. And know that Love and Unity are essential.

🌿In light of that foundation we as Christians are called to a role of uncompromising diligence in upholding the sanctity of life—from the womb to the final natural breath of all mankind. We are called to the pursuit of justice for any deviances from righteous, truthful living. And in the middle of those callings we are summoned to a life of love and unity, pursuing the hearts of others before our own comforts.

🌿As to what that should look like practically will depend upon which side of the millennial kingdom we reside.

🌿For now we give up our rights and comforts in order to preserve the rights of those who cannot defend themselves. For now we stand for truth through the lens of love and plead for justice through the bonds of unity. For now our chests heave with anguished tears as we brokenly cry out “Lord, come quickly.”

🌿But soon Jesus WILL come with victory and will reign in absolute recognized authority, upholding truth and immediate justice. 🎵And this our plea: forever be Lord Jesus our only Truth.