Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life.

Frodo: It's a pity Bilbo didn't kill him when he had the chance.

Gandalf: Pity? It was pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play yet, for good or ill before this is over. The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many.

I am contemplating how often we say the word "deserve." We say he deserves this or we deserve that. Some times speaking death across empty air we claim certain people deserve to die because of their sin/mistakes they commit.

1 Samuel 2:10
the LORD will judge the ends of the earth.

1 Samuel 24:15
May the LORD be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand."

Psalm 9:8
He will judge the world in righteousness; he will govern the peoples with justice.

Righteousness Through Faith

Romans 3:21-25 "But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood."

In the message bible it says it this way: But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we've compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin.

My point is this God is our judge as well as our source of love and life. We all fall short and deserve death. Who are we truly to go about cursing others with our judgment of whether they deserve life or death. By being living examples of Jesus in us, ever grateful for our washed clean slate by his blood, thus we should live. Upon our lips should dwell prayer and petition, praise, and encouragement, not judgment, harsh words, curses or death. May I watch my mouth and thoughts the next time I am cut off or treated badly. May I watch my hearts response as the news of mistakes of others hit my ears and my view.

Paul a murderer wrote much of the new testament. Who are we to give up on anyone God hasn't lost hope in yet!