Friday Reflection July 31, 2020 You!

*Friday Reflection*
*July 31, 2020*
*You!*

You shalt not raise a false report: put not your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
Exodus 23:1 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/exo.23.1.KJV

Happy Friday Friends! TGIF!!!
Today we take a look at this Old Testament passage and see how best we can apply the lesson to our everyday life. Let’s Go!

*Background:* Exodus chapter 23 is a list of more laws to Judges. Today our focus is on verse one which speaks about a law that promotes justice. You might ask … How’s this relevant today? Journey with me as I examine the text and apply it’s concept to our lives in this present world.

*Application*: The text begins with what we call a personal pronoun. The word *you* I believe is intentionally used as it can be both singular and plural which means it referring to individuals as well as a group of individuals. Therefore, it MUST be taken personally.

*Firstly, let us examine the first sentence:*

*You* shall not circulate a false report: The only way to obey this command is to put a stop to false report. Often times we hear things being said of persons and we know fully well they are lies. Some of us have a tendency to say “it’s not my business”. But today I am saying to us *we are our brothers and sisters keeper and therefore it is very much our business!* Doing nothing or remaining neutral only allow the false report to circulate even more. You might say but I am not the one who started it, guess what… *“The inventor and receiver of false and slanderous reports, are almost equally criminal* (Clarke)
In Jamaica we say *yu a hypocrite!*

Friends, the onus is on *you*. You shall NOT bear false witness against anyone. It is not about anyone else and whether they are the one’s who started it yes or no. It’s about *you* and your Godly responsibility. *You* must ensure you put a stop to false report by not engaging in conversations about it and most importantly *you must speak the truth*. If you do not know the truth it is proper to ask and require proof from the person bringing the report, and proof as required in the Bible – from two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15).

Secondly, *You* shall not put your hand with the wicked to be an *unrighteous witness*. In others words *doh mix up yuhself wid wicked ppl and bear false witness gainst adda ppl*

It has always been in the nature of mankind *to follow a crowd to do evil*, since the time Adam followed Eve into sin to this very day. It is easy and dangerous to side with many to pervert justice, to follow our peers and popular opinion. When doing so promotes a false report or perverts justice, then it is sin! This is why it is so important for us *to choose our crowd carefully*: Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” (1 Corinthians 15:33). *You* are responsible for the friends you associate yourself with. Only *you* can decide when it’s time to move on!.

*Conclusion:* Both statements/ command is connected with the next because the circulation of a false report was and still is a fundamental way to put your hand with the wicked and follow a crowd to do evil. Remember the onus is on *you*.
Do the right thing and speak up about injustice, do not be apart of it and do not sit and do nothing about it. *Your bother or sister is your business and part of your Godly responsibility*

God bless ya’ll

Shaneka Raymore Euphfa