Daily Devotion – June 12, 2020 – Charlie Axness
These were Jesus’ words from the cross as he breathed his last. A little know fact is that most deaths on crosses occur because of asphyxiation. The person hanging on the cross must pull themselves up for each breath. Eventually, as their strength wanes, they cannot lift themselves again and death comes.
Asphyxiation is a word that we have heard over and over in the past few weeks. The word has become nearly synonymous with the words “I can’t breathe.” Those words of course were the last words uttered by George Floyd, as a police officer’s knee pressed on the back of Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. At that point life was finished for George Floyd.
I acknowledge there is a vast chasm between Jesus’ death and George Floyd’s death. Jesus death was salvific, while George Floyd’s death is a call for justice. The question becomes this: How many cries for justice will it take before we act? We claim as Christians when we hear Jesus’ words from the cross we are inspired to “make disciples of all nations to the ends of the earth.” What are we inspired to do when we hear the words, “I can’t breathe?” We have heard similar words from other black people, yet little seems to have changed. I am aware of legislative attempts but has anything really changed in the hearts of white privileged people. We can give lip service and, in a week, a month from now, barely remember the gasp of George Floyd.
We profess Christianity. We can even quote the words of Jesus from Matthew 22 where Jesus is challenged by the Pharisees as to which was the greatest of the commandments, Jesus reply, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second was like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and all the prophets hang on these two commandments.” WAS GEORGE FLOYD OUR NEIGHBOR? If he were our neighbor do we love him as ourselves? If we do love him as ourselves, we should be outraged and called to action. Will we follow through on our promises or will they again be empty?
Please answer these questions with me: “Will we act,” and “Do Black lives matter?”
Prayer: God, you know our hearts. What do you see? Lord God, guide us, inspire us, and help us to love our neighbor.
