are, and henceforward shall be free…..

God uses certain people at particular moments to do extraordinary and courageous things the ramifications of which cannot be seen at that time. Abraham Lincoln is one of those people.

On January 1, 1863 the Emancipation Proclamation freeing all slaves in the United States took effect. The scars of slavery are still evident, however, on this day almost 150 years ago liberty and justice began to be reestablished for a race of people once considered property. That emancipation should move us in deep ways.

The public ministry of Jesus opened with the sermon on the mount. He began His address with what are commonly called the beatitudes. Beatitudes are blessings. As part of them Jesus told us that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed because they will be filled.

Righteousness has a personal and a universal understanding. We often default to the personal meaning of us behaving well. The universal idea is that of a world set right. We are to hunger and thirst for the world to be set right. In other words, we are to hunger and thirst for justice.

It was, at least in part, a hunger and thirst for justice that motivated Lincoln to end slavery. He dreamed of a union where all people are free. As Christ's people we are to dream of a just society that brings glory to Christ.

In the midst of your holiday take time to reflect on the significance Lincoln's actions. Then ask yourself, does my life reflect a hunger and thirst for justice?