As I continue the challenging work on my dissertation, exploring the themes of Justice and Jubilee, I often find myself wrestling with the endless cycle of social problems that dominate our conversations—immigration, politics, relationship struggles, and so much more. Along this journey, there are moments when I stumble across what I can only describe as “Golden Nuggets” in Scripture—truths that resonate so deeply that it would be a sin to keep them to myself. These insights feel less like routine discoveries and more like epiphanies, calling me to pause, reflect, and share. Whether you’re reading these thoughts for inspiration or your own quiet meditation, I hope they speak to your heart as they do to mine.
The World’s Focus on Problems:
It’s easy to see, from scrolling through headlines or conversations online, that the world is deeply focused on its problems. Immigration debates. Political divides. Relationship struggles. These issues dominate discussions, leaving little room for solutions. Yet, the answers we seek aren’t buried in bureaucracy or fleeting human philosophies—they’ve been available all along in Scripture, standing strong through generations.
Leviticus 19:17-18 — A Divine Framework
Take Leviticus 19:17-18, for example. Within just two verses lies a profound, divine framework for addressing the core of human social issues. It’s a roadmap for living in harmony, one that seamlessly weaves prohibitions, remedies, and rationales.
Step One: Root Out Hatred
Verse 19:17 starts with a command that’s impossible to ignore—“You shall not hate your kinsperson in your heart.” This speaks to the root of so many social problems. When resentment and anger take hold, relationships break apart, communities falter, and bitterness festers in silence. Scripture then calls us to a remedy. “Reprove your fellow openly.” Accountability, when done in love, is an act of courage and compassion. It allows for healing rather than harm and strengthens the bonds between individuals. By confronting issues directly yet respectfully, we prevent unresolved conflicts from tearing us apart.
Step Two: Choose Love Over Revenge
Leviticus 19:18 urges us even further. “You shall not take revenge or nurse a grudge against members of your people.” How often do we see grudges fuel cycles of pain and retaliation in relationships, politics, or even within families? But instead of revenge, we’re given a divine alternative—love. “You shall love your fellow as yourself.” It’s a timeless solution, challenging us to rise above our pride and human instinct to “get even.” Love requires strength, not weakness, and the result is peace, not division.
Built for Every Generation
This sequence—prohibition, remedy, rationale—isn’t just advice; it’s a divine design, timeless and effective. Its simplicity means it can be applied across cultures, eras, and issues. Whether we’re looking at national debates on immigration or the everyday conflicts of navigating relationships, this pattern offers a practical solution. It demands introspection, calls us to show compassion, and equips us to build resilient communities.
The Call to Return to Our First Love
Yet the most enduring and transformational solution of all is one that Leviticus ultimately reflects—returning to Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate embodiment of this command to love, living out grace and reconciliation in ways we can only hope to emulate. By focusing so deeply on problems, we’ve drifted from the one relationship that truly transforms lives. He alone can heal nations, mend relationships, and rebuild broken hearts.
The invitation is His, but the choice to return is ours. Instead of being consumed by the endless debates and division, we can turn our focus to Him. His word already supplies the solutions. His love clears the grudges. His grace restores the broken. Will you come back to your first love?
The Solution is Already Here
The issues of immigration, politics, and human relationships will always be complex. But the beauty of Scripture is that it provides clarity in chaos. Leviticus 19 is just one example of how God has gifted us timeless solutions to heal, reconnect, and thrive. His commands remind us that hatred and revenge only deepen wounds, while love and accountability bring restoration.
It’s time to stop focusing solely on the problems and start turning to the solutions that have been here all along. It’s time to come back to Jesus, the ultimate source of peace and purpose. After all, He has already shown us the way—through love.
Remember where you came from. Honor where you are. And move forward, empowered by the timeless truths of God’s Word.
