Craig Clouston

 Defending the Weak

November 3

Defend the cause of the weak … and oppressed.

Psalm 82:3

Marla sat in the corner of the lunchroom, away from the other kids. She

was unpopular and constantly reviled by her peers.

Teresa hated the insensitivity of her classmates. Angered by their actions,

she began sitting with Marla, which in turn, caused them to turn on her, too.

During an exceptionally unpleasant day, Marla asked her, “Why do you

stick up for me? Now they make fun of you as much as they do me.”

“For a couple reasons,” Teresa said. “One: what they’re doing is wrong.

Two: they’re ganging up on you. I refuse to let you stand against them alone. As

far as I know, you’ve never done anything to deserve their ridicule. Besides”—

she leaned closer—”something inside me burns when bullies attack in groups.”

“But don’t they hurt? You know, the words and gestures?” Marla asked.

“Aren’t you afraid?”

Teresa said, “Sure, it hurts when they call us names and make those vile

gestures. But I’m not afraid.” She saw Marla’s eyebrows rise. “Marla, don’t get

me wrong, I don’t like it. They’re cowards masquerading as thugs. But I don’t

get my affirmation from them. I get it from God. I’m not afraid because God

has given me peace about it. Yes, the words hurt. But I’m not who they say I am

and neither are you. I know that because of God’s loving encouragement. He

protects my heart from their insensitivity. God loves them too and wants them

to change. Until they do, He’s asked me to take a stand against small-minded

people.”

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Without exception, we have all been bullies and been bullied. Someone or

something has paid the price of our insecurity, receiving undue ridicule, or we

ourselves have been on the receiving end.

Defending the rights of the weak is everyone’s responsibility. Yet fear of

man prevents many of us from taking the necessary action. It can be uncom-

fortable, unpleasant work standing up for someone not directly involved in our

life.

When faced with injustice, ask yourself: “If this were my sister, my brother,

or my child, would I stand aside and do nothing?”

Prayer

“Lord, may I never again be the oppressor. Help

me to always defend the rights of those who are

weak and oppressed. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”