Brett's Discernment

Thursday Night Amos 5:24

Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Who here has been creekwalking this week? Who has had bible study in the creek? Did anyone sit by the creek this week? Did anyone look at the rocks when going over twin bridge and think about the water?

So apparently, we have some experts here. Amos compares God's justice to water. Have you ever thought about a creek or a river? How does it travel? Does it go in a straight line? NO! It curves, it winds its way – this does not make sense – but it doesn't have to! So – there is a difference here – between the wold's justice, where we say everything has to be “equal” and logical.

But tonight we do not ask for the world's justice – tonight we cry out – hence the “let” part of it – Let justice roll down like waters – and righteousness like an ever flowing stream!

So God's justice – what is it? It's the rolling, rushing ever-flowing stream. It rushes through the plains and creates curves – not where we think they should be, not in straight lines but where God sees that it is needed. Just like the creek, we may not understand why God's justice does or even see it how moves exactly, but it is there, changing the landscape. The stream changes the landscape forever, just like how in the waters of baptism we are changed forever and that God's justice is like the stream in how it cannot be stopped – only diverted – kind of like the amazing energy this week has been unstoppable – with random singing and dancing, adventures caving and excavating,

But one of my favorite camp activities becomes part of our discussion tonight. Many of you have done it. We could leave here this week and say – so what – so what about God's justice – so what about the lost, the little, the least, the lifeless, and the last. Until, we find ourselves in their shoes. Until one of your friends leaves you behind or says something behind your back or until you are sick. . . So how do we live in this world of God's justice? It's simple – all you have to do – is go creekwalking – we are baptized and forever changed by God's justice through grace, but then we go off in the world, where we can be hurt – unless – we go creekwalking – we can walk and live in the stream of God's justice. The stream will never run out, it is ever flowing. And while we are still in the world, there will still be a slip or a rock here and there, if we creekwalk in the stream of God's justice, we will see a different life, a different justice. So how do you do this? There are little ways to do it everyday, but big ones too. Maybe you could help someone find their way that feels lost. Maybe you could talk to someone who always seems to be included last. I'm sure you can think of many other ways to live in the stream, to creekwalk in God's justice.